The PCLL Conversion Examinations should be taken by overseas students (studying law degrees in other common law jurisdictions outside Hong Kong) intending to become a lawyer in Hong Kong.
It is an important part of the entry requirement for the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) course, which is the professional legal training in Hong Kong required before any law firm will offer you a training contract to become a trainee solicitor in Hong Kong.
To be eligible for admission to the PCLL, you must demonstrate competence in 11 Core Law Subjects:
- Contract
- Tort
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Law
- Land Law
- Equity
- Civil Procedure (not applicable from 2021)
- Criminal Procedure (not applicable from 2021)
- Evidence
- Business Associations
- Commercial Law
Those subjects in italics above (no. 1 to 6) are usually covered in a law degrees from common law jurisdictions.
In addition, those core subjects in bold above (no. 7 to 10) must be completed by students who did not complete a law degree or JD from City University, Chinese University of Hong Kong or University of Hong Kong, unless you have an exemption.
All non-Hong Kong students must take and pass the following top-up subjects in the PCLL Conversion Exams:
- Hong Kong Constitutional Law
- Hong Kong Land Law
- Hong Kong Legal System
The PCLL Conversion Examination is administered by the Standing Committee on Legal Education and Training and the Conversion Examination Board Administration.