查看完整版本 : CUHK PCLL 2021-2022 Offer (Also looking for 21/22 study buddies)

Wonder why there’s no post on CUHK PCLL intake this year……

I have a 2:2 LLB from CUHK with a not-so-good-looking cGPA and >5 years of working experience as paralegal/legal assistant, currently on the waiting list. Do I stand a chance this year?

Last I heard (not confirmed) the cut-off for the first round offers is around 3.2. Chances seem to be pretty slim. If I got rejected when would I receive the reject letter? All this waiting is driving me nuts.

Anyone getting 2nd round offer from CUHK please please share? Hopefully all of us get what we wished for.


Update on 18 August:
I’ve just received a call from CUHK and have verbally accepted the offer. They’ve finished panel meeting yesterday.
PCLL, I’m coming!
Looking for study buddies who will be in the 21/22 program~

[[i] 本帖最後由 Astarise 於 2021-8-18 01:58 PM 編輯 [/i]]

The chance is slim but is still there. CUHK seems to have reserved some seats for applicants with legal working experience.

Of course, the skepticism is that CUHK would, instead of recognizing your working experience and give you a seat in PCLL, want you to pay 300k for a JD as a second chance entry ticket.  This is evident by the admission statistics that more than half of the PCLL seats go to JDers (source: [url]https://www.sclet.gov.hk/eng/pdf/2020e.pdf)[/url] :smile_45:

[quote]原帖由 [i]fb2e3f116d50c9[/i] 於 2021-8-13 11:36 PM 發表 [url=https://www.discuss.com.hk/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=539203794&ptid=30106650][img]https://www.discuss.com.hk/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]
The chance is slim but is still there. CUHK seems to have reserved some seats for applicants with legal working experience.

Of course, the skepticism is that CUHK would, instead of recognizing your ... [/quote]
Wow so there might be reserved seats for WE applicants - thanks for the news!

I’ve actually considered the JD option but given the overlapping subjects and admission requirement (program for non-law degree holders), I guess that’s not a viable option for local LLB degree holders. CPE/GDL/UoL with exceptional grades as second law degree though, could be a way of securing a place in the PCLL program.

I’m super worried right now, having applied for PCLL for multiple times……I submitted my application literally minutes before the deadline and seats are given on a first-come-first-serve basis for applicant with similar grades.

Don’t know whether I should keep on applying if I get rejected again this year……

[quote]原帖由 [i]Astarise[/i] 於 2021-8-13 11:57 PM 發表 [url=https://www.discuss.com.hk/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=539204431&ptid=30106650][img]https://www.discuss.com.hk/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]

Wow so there might be reserved seats for WE applicants - thanks for the news!

I’ve actually considered the JD option but given the overlapping subjects and admission requirement (program for non- ... [/quote]
Regarding the working experience route, CUHK website said: "[i][b]A limited number of PCLL places[/b] may be offered to candidates based on their academic merit, supplemented by evidence of law-related working experience (not including internships and mini-pupillages) of not less than  two years’ continuous duration[/i]." (source: [url]https://www.law.cuhk.edu.hk/app/study-with-us/postgraduate-certificate-in-laws-pcll[/url] )

However, it seems that the scope of WE route in CUHK is less clear than that of HKU.  For instance, HKU said "...[i]We have a maximum number of [b]15 discretionarypart-time places[/b] based on a balance of candidates’ legal knowledge and full-time workingexperience, as well as interview performance (“the WE Route”). We filled up all thoseplaces after interviewing 48 candidates[/i]." ([url]https://www.sclet.gov.hk/eng/pdf/2020e.pdf[/url] )

So, if you are unlucky again this year, I guess it may be better if you apply for HKU PT next year?

my advice is 讀多個part time gdl 再報cityu pcll (唔好報cu)

[quote]原帖由 [i]fb2e3f116d50c9[/i] 於 2021-8-14 12:19 AM 發表 [url=https://www.discuss.com.hk/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=539205097&ptid=30106650][img]https://www.discuss.com.hk/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]

Regarding the working experience route, CUHK website said: "A limited number of PCLL places may be offered to candidates based on their academic merit, supplemented by evidence of law-related workin ... [/quote]
Yes, I saw CUHK’s admission requirement for WE applicants too, but the language is not as clear as HKU’s, so I didn’t take it as reserving seats for WE applicants.

I’ve applied for HKU PT last year and got to the interview stage. It seems they prefer (changed wording - the word prioritize seems too serious and unsuitable) people with litigation drafting experience (just my own personal opinion) - and I’ve heard that HKU’s program leans more towards the advocacy side while CUHK’s are for solicitors. Please enlighten me if I’m wrong.

My current hours are quite hectic, and I’m not sure whether I can handle work and study at the same time. Might need to change my job as well if I do apply for PT and enrolled. (._.)

[[i] 本帖最後由 Astarise 於 2021-8-18 01:48 PM 編輯 [/i]]

[quote]原帖由 [i]dlscpepcll[/i] 於 2021-8-14 08:56 AM 發表 [url=https://www.discuss.com.hk/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=539211704&ptid=30106650][img]https://www.discuss.com.hk/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]
my advice is 讀多個part time gdl 再報cityu pcll (唔好報cu) [/quote]
May I know why to choose CityU over CU? I do hear that the cut-off is more lenient in the former - but with this info well-known to many, the cut-off might have actually become higher than it rumored to be.

Also for the part-time GDL - how is the course? Would it be very intensive and/or difficult? Being around the age of 30, investing at least two years in GDL + PCLL + TC (if things go well) is not an easy decision……(>_<)

Re Astarise:


我在cu law (jd) 去到最盡都只係拎到B+ 但gdl可以去到70+ (ulaw)
part time gdl好處係可以per semester 一科兩科咁考, 易d高分
full time gdl就3-4科迫埋考, 好容易考得差
cu pcll competition最大, 只會收自己人 cu jd 同 cu llb cgpa > 3.25 - 3.3既人, work experience唔會睇,
非本地llb個d 入得cu pcll唔係oxford就cambridge
cityu pcll 就好似多d學位係比有工作經驗既人
hku pcll 考試就聽講fail好多人 但hku part time pcll都唔係咁難入

[[i] 本帖最後由 dlscpepcll 於 2021-8-14 10:54 AM 編輯 [/i]]

[quote]原帖由 [i]dlscpepcll[/i] 於 2021-8-14 10:53 AM 發表 [url=https://www.discuss.com.hk/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=539215087&ptid=30106650][img]https://www.discuss.com.hk/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]
Re Astarise:


我在cu law (jd) 去到最盡都只係拎到B+ 但gdl可以去到70+ (ulaw)
part time gdl好處係可以per semester 一科兩科咁考, 易d高分
full time gdl就3-4科迫埋考, 好容易考得差
cu pcll competition最大, 只會收自己人 cu jd 同 cu llb cgpa > 3.25 -  ... [/quote]
Many thanks for the explanation! I’ll keep this in mind if I decide to take the GDL course in the future.

I got my LLB from CUHK so I guess the 自己人 issue wouldn’t be the greatest hurdle……hopefully (OvO)

[quote]原帖由 [i]Astarise[/i] 於 2021-8-14 11:59 AM 發表 [url=https://www.discuss.com.hk/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=539217275&ptid=30106650][img]https://www.discuss.com.hk/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]

Many thanks for the explanation! I’ll keep this in mind if I decide to take the GDL course in the future.

I got my LLB from CUHK so I guess the 自己人 issue wouldn’t be the greatest hurdle……hopefull ... [/quote]
Based on the your background, I think that a fair balance between cost, effectiveness, time and effort in study would be doing a part-time GDL. To put it in simple terms, if you are willing to pay $85,000, spend some time on your study in GDL for two years, the marks should help you quite a lot in applying for PCLL.

If you get an average of 65+ in GDL, I think you stand a good chance (i.e. more likely than not) of getting into HKU or CityU PCLL. In addition, your working experience is still there so it could also support your application.

Your previous application results also implied that your existing "package" (2:2 LLB grades + WE experience) is not as competitive as expected.  To continue to rely on it for future application is like trying your luck (again) that the university will someday appreciate your package and offer you a seat.

[quote]原帖由 [i]fb2e3f116d50c9[/i] 於 2021-8-14 12:30 PM 發表 [url=https://www.discuss.com.hk/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=539218309&ptid=30106650][img]https://www.discuss.com.hk/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]

Based on the your background, I think that a fair balance between cost, effectiveness, time and effort in study would be doing a part-time GDL. To put it in simple terms, if you are willing to pay $ ... [/quote]
Thanks for clarifying the route to PCLL - will definitely take into account your advice if I still get rejected this year.

I was rejected by CUHK twice after graduating from its LLB program. Then I switched to applying for HKU PT, but my package wasn’t competitive enough for it (interviewers even asked whether I can transfer internally to the litigation practice in my current job, which I couldn’t……and of course my interview performance wasn’t impressive). So this is officially my first WE application to CUHK PCLL lol We’ll see if my package works for CUHK or not this year……(OvO)

[quote]原帖由 [i]Astarise[/i] 於 2021-8-14 01:06 PM 發表 [url=https://www.discuss.com.hk/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=539219739&ptid=30106650][img]https://www.discuss.com.hk/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]

Thanks for clarifying the route to PCLL - will definitely take into account your advice if I still get rejected this year.

I was rejected by CUHK twice after graduating from its LLB program. Then ... [/quote]
Actually, it is something new to me that under WE route, HKU seems to prioritize people with litigation drafting experience ; not every working experience counts.

I also wonder why interviewers even asked whether you can transfer internally to the litigation practice in your current job. For instance, even if you can, it doesn't benefit HKU. The only possible explanation that I can think of is that they lack students from litigation background, so if you do, you can contribute to their "diversified" background of students. However, that sounds non-sense to me.

[quote]原帖由 [i]fb2e3f116d50c9[/i] 於 2021-8-14 01:30 PM 發表 [url=https://www.discuss.com.hk/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=539220525&ptid=30106650][img]https://www.discuss.com.hk/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]

Actually, it is something new to me that under WE route, HKU seems to prioritize people with litigation drafting experience ; not every working experience counts.

I also wonder why interviewers e ... [/quote]
I’m a bit surprised too, but last year in the interview I was really asked about this.

I originally thought it would be PBQ and some simple questions on WE, from what I read on this forum. However, it’s not like this in my case. Interviewers asked about my drafting experience, and some questions leaning on the litigation practice side. It was only after I answered negative to the internal transfer question that they started asking corporate questions……

So I’m not sure either. Maybe it’s me who’s abnormal?

[quote]原帖由 [i]Astarise[/i] 於 2021-8-14 02:12 PM 發表 [url=https://www.discuss.com.hk/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=539222137&ptid=30106650][img]https://www.discuss.com.hk/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]

I’m a bit surprised too, but last year in the interview I was really asked about this.

I originally thought it would be PBQ and some simple questions on WE, from what I read on this forum. Howeve ... [/quote]
That's the uncertainty under the WE route. After all, it is discretionary in nature so applicants can't complain. But that would seem unfair to non-litigation background applicants as they are in a disadvantaged position, without knowledge to that. Also, what you do now may not mean or limit what you will do in the future. Isn't it possible that I work as a paralegal for litigation now, but work for commercial transaction after qualified? To me, as long as the experience is legal and not merely clerical, that should be counted.

[quote]原帖由 [i]fb2e3f116d50c9[/i] 於 2021-8-14 02:35 PM 發表 [url=https://www.discuss.com.hk/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=539222946&ptid=30106650][img]https://www.discuss.com.hk/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]

That's the uncertainty under the WE route. After all, it is discretionary in nature so applicants can't complain. But that would seem unfair to non-litigation background applicants as they are in a  ... [/quote]
True. I hope that I’m lucky enough this year - given the COVID situation, some of the overseas applicants might take a gap year.

Also congrats on getting the HKU FT offer, just saw your earlier reply in another post. Best of luck and thanks for your helpful advice!

Actually, I am currently a CUHK JD year 2 student (Full Time). My CGPA has fluctuated a lot during these 2 years. Now, I could only preserve my CGPA between the range of 3.0 to 3.1. If it is optimistic, the maximum CGPA that I could achieve is around 3.2 to 3.3 if I get good grades in the final remaining semester 2 and summer semester (With independent research dissertation and good electives and majors. However, I am a pessimistic person. So, if my CGPA will still remain between the range of 3.0 to 3.1, would I still stand a high chance to enroll in HKU PCLL part-time programme? Anyone here could give me some advice? And there are two specific situations.

Situation 1:
CUHK JD CGPA 3.08

Situation 2:
CUHK JD CGPA 3.12

Thank you!

[quote]原帖由 [i]Astarise[/i] 於 2021-8-13 10:27 PM 發表 [url=https://www.discuss.com.hk/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=539201700&ptid=30106650][img]https://www.discuss.com.hk/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]
Wonder why there’s no post on CUHK PCLL intake this year……

I have a 2:2 LLB from CUHK with a not-so-good-looking cGPA and >5 years of working experience as paralegal/legal assistant, currently on t ... [/quote]
UGC-funded placement or not?

Does anyone know how many UGC-funded places have been offered by CUHK in 2021/22? stll 36 咁少？

聽朋友讀完CUHK JD講入到CUHK PCLL都會係government-funded，但唔知真假。
因為佢話佢同班JD同學入到CUHK PCLL都係 government-funded :Q

I guess it depends on the situation. But if you want a FT, I guess 3.2 - 3.3 or above, but if you apply for UGC, I think 3.55 or above would be safe. But if you say PT, I guess 2.9 - 3.0 or above would be safe for academic.

[quote]原帖由 [i]dlscpepcll[/i] 於 2021-8-14 10:53 發表 [url=https://www.discuss.com.hk/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=539215087&ptid=30106650][img]https://www.discuss.com.hk/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]
Re Astarise:


我在cu law (jd) 去到最盡都只係拎到B+ 但gdl可以去到70+ (ulaw)
part time gdl好處係可以per semester 一科兩科咁考, 易d高分
full time gdl就3-4科迫埋考, 好容易考得差
cu pcll competition最大, 只會收自己人 cu jd 同 cu llb cgpa > 3.25 -  ... [/quote]
想問如果CUHK JD 僅僅過3多少少入唔入到Part time pcll?