{"id":24654,"date":"2020-10-28T11:28:31","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T03:28:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.law.cuhk.edu.hk\/app\/?page_id=24654"},"modified":"2026-08-21T12:03:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T04:03:20","slug":"law-as-a-second-career","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.law.cuhk.edu.hk\/app\/law-as-a-second-career\/","title":{"rendered":"Law as a Second Career"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\u201cI want to go back to University and get a law degree\u201d<\/o:p><\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Changing paths:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Law as a Second Career<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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<\/div>
Route to Practicing Law in Hong Kong as a Solicitor or Barrister<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Obtain the JD in 24 Months (full-time) <\/span>or 42 Months (part-time)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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The JD is a Qualifying Degree for Admission to the PCLL<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Global Learning Environment<\/span> with International Experts in Their Fields<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Fully Equipped Teaching Facilities Conveniently Located in Central<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Professional Guidance for Career Preparation and Development<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Numerous Merit - based Scholarships and Prizes<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Changing careers is a big decision. The idea of leaving an existing career path to go back to school to start a new profession is likely to be just as daunting as it is exciting. There are many things to consider, such as balancing additional schooling with work-life commitments, investing additional time and costs to obtain legal qualifications and entering a highly competitive legal job market.<\/p>

On the other hand, there are also significant benefits for those who pursue law as a second career. Often, second career lawyers are able to bring substantial working experience from a different field which adds value to their legal practice. Since law reaches into all areas of society, those with past working experience often find that they have many transferrable skills which may give them an edge over their competitors. Those who come to law as a second career will find that a law degree opens up a wide range of career options. Beyond the traditional path of practicing as a solicitor or barrister, there are many other attractive opportunities such as joining the private sector as in-house lawyer, the civil service or other regulatory agencies.<\/p>

Many of those who have decided to pursue law as a second career have chosen to join the CUHK LAW Juris Doctor (JD) programme.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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