Many graduates cannot practise law in Hong Kong

I am writing about a matter of public importance, which is also an issue of personal unease.

In Hong Kong, the only avenue to enter into the legal profession is through obtaining a PCLL (postgraduate certificate in laws).

There are only a limited number of places available in universities each year, and they are filled by students from Hong Kong and abroad. Therefore, many students who do well in their LLB (bachelor of laws) are prevented from entering the legal profession.

I became aware of this because my daughter, who obtained an LLB (upper second class honours), is facing this problem. Many law graduates from various institutions who obtain very good exam results and, by any objective standards, would have qualified to study for a PCLL, are held back due to the limited places available.

The number of PCLL places available is not based on the capacity of the students to enter the legal profession. Students are admitted until the very limited number of seats is filled; others are not able to qualify.

Students do not know the marks required to enter the PCLL programme as they change annually, and they have apparently been rising in recent years.