HD Application Code: HDLE
Legal Executives in law firms enjoy professional status and may be given certain limited rights of audience in accordance with the Court’s Practice Direction to represent lay client. To use the professional title “Legal Executive (LE)”, graduates of this programme must fulfill the Benchmark standard of The Law Society of Hong Kong (HKLS).
Programme Aims and Features
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This programme aims to equip students with the fundamental legal knowledge and administrative skills to support legal professionals in law offices or related public services, or to carry out administrative duties in the general administration units of business and industrial organisations. The legal knowledge and practical skills learnt from the course can pave their future career pathway in the legal sector and support their pursuit of further studies;
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Specialism courses are taught by experienced practitioners and legal academics;
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In accordance with the HKLS’s Benchmarks, students will attend interactive sessions in medium class-sized groups;
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Workshops focused on law-related work and skill-based tasks.
Opportunities for Further Studies
UGC-funded Universities
Graduates are eligible to apply for admission to different bachelor's degree programmes offered by 8 UGC-funded local universities (including HKU) through non-JUPAS means.The academic progression pathways will include LLB programmes offered locally and overseas.
The list below shows the degree offers that our graduates/ students received in the past*:
- The University of Hong Kong
BA
BSc Information Management - The Chinese University of Hong Kong
BA English
Bachelor of Chinese Medicine
BSSc Gender Studies
BSSc Global Studies - City University of Hong Kong
Bachelor of Laws
BA Chinese and History
BA English Studies
BA Linguistics and Language Applications
BBA Business Analysis
BBA Global Business Systems Management
BSocSc Asian and International Studies
BSocSc Criminology
BSocSc Criminology and Sociology
BSocSc Environmental Policy
BSocSc Public Policy and Politics
BSocSc Public Policy, Management, and Politics - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
BA (Hons) Language and Speech Sciences - Lingnan University
BSocSc (Hons) China and Asia Pacific Studies Stream - The Education University of Hong Kong
BEd (Hons) (Primary) - General Studies
BEd (Hons) Physical Education
Graduates are also eligible to apply for the below degree programmes offered by other institutions:
Other Local Institutions
Hong Kong Shue Yan University offers articulation routes to HDLE graduates. Graduates with a GPA of 3.0 or above are eligible to apply for senior year admission to the following bachelor's degree programmes*:
- Hong Kong Shue Yan University
Programmes that accept Year 2^ and Year 3§ entries:
BBA (Hons)
BBA (Hons) Digital Marketing
BBA (Hons) Corporate Governance and Risk Management
BBA (Hons) Human Resources Management - Applied Psychology
BA (Hons) Economics and Finance
Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Financial Technology
Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Law and Business
Programmes that accept Year 2 entry^ only:
Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Accounting
^ Year 2 entry: A graduate of a relevant recognised Associate Degree or Higher Diploma programme in Hong Kong;
§ Year 3 entry: A graduate of a relevant recognised Associate Degree or Higher Diploma programme in Hong Kong with a GPA of at least 3.0.
*The above list is not exhaustive and only shows some of the examples.
Overseas Universities
Graduates satisfy the general entrance requirements of the University of London External System. However, the University of London External System reserves the right to request applicants to provide evidence acceptable to the University of oral and written competence in English before an offer of registration can be made.
Articulation Pathways
Professional Recognition
- U.K. Institute of Paralegals
The Higher Diploma for Legal Executives programme (HDLE) is recognised by the Institute of Paralegals (IoP), the U.K. professional body for paralegals which sets national competency standards for paralegals and others (see https://theiop.org).
Successful completion of this programme will allow students to be elected to "Associate Paralegal" (A.Inst.Pa.)# status.
# HPSHCC and HKU SPACE are not affiliated with the Institute of Paralegals, and all memberships inquiries should be directed to the Institute (see https://theiop.org).
- The Law Society of Hong Kong
Graduates who have fulfilled the Benchmarks^ of The Law Society of Hong Kong (HKLS) are eligible to use the professional title of “Legal Executive”.
^The Law Society of Hong Kong's Benchmark
Only those graduates of the Higher Diploma for Legal Executives programme, who have satisfied the following requirements of The Law Society of Hong Kong's Benchmark, are eligible to use the professional title “Legal Executive” in law firms:
1. who have obtained a pass in 5 subjects in HKCEE or a combination of results in 5 HKDSE subjects of Level 2 in NSS subjects, “Attained” in ApL subjects (Subject to a maximum of 2 ApL subjects) and Grade E in Other Language subjects or who have been in law-related employment in Hong Kong for 3 years; and
2. who have obtained a minimum of
• Level 3 or above in English Language in HKDSE since 2012 ; or
• Level 3 or above in English Language in HKCEE from 2007 ; or
• Grade D or above in English Language (Syllabus B) in the pre 2007 HKCEE, or
• overall score of 6 in IELTS (International English Language Testing System.
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
HDLE graduates can apply for Paper F4 exemption from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
- Hong Kong Judiciary
- Practice Direction 14.1 - Rights of Audience Before a Master
- Practice Direction 27 - Civil Proceedings in the District Court
Support by Legal Practitioners
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Pádraig Walsh Partner, Tanner De Witt Solicitors |
“Legal executives are the oil that fires the engine of much of the work of a law firm. Not only will legal executives perform a vital role in a wide range of legal work undertaken by law firms and private businesses, but also the role of legal executive can provide a platform for further development of a professional career in law. It is a significant advantage in a very challenging recruitment market for aspiring legal executives to demonstrate their training and ability by having a dedicated qualification that focuses on the needs and requirements of a successful legal executive in Hong Kong. The Higher Diploma for Legal Executives fulfils this need admirably and is welcome addition to the available options for people wishing to pursue this career path.”
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James O’ Connell |
“HDLE recognised as an international qualification”
“The Institute of Paralegals warmly welcomes this excellent, practice-orientated HDLE.”
“Although law and procedure tends to be jurisdiction-specific, this HDLE provides students with many skills which are recognised and needed in all jurisdictions.”
Career Prospects
Job opportunities can be found in both public and private business sectors, such as solicitor’s firms, barristers’ chambers, law enforcement bodies and government.
Press Interview – Sing Tao Daily
