how to be a lawyer in china

by Mr. Chauncey Goyette 9 min read

Overview on Chinese Lawyer.

  • 1. To become a lawyer in China, one must pass the national bar exam organized by the Ministry of Justice of China and be granted a legal professional ...
  • 2. A Chinese lawyer must have obtained both Chinese legal professional qualification certificate and Chinese lawyer practice license. If only the ...
  • 3. Chinese lawyers serve the whole society, there is no specific target. Any natural person or legal person may entrust a Chinese lawyer with legal ...
  • 4. When engaging in legal business in China, a Chinese lawyer must be entrusted by the party concerned or appointed by the people’s court, and work ...

In China, as in many other countries, legal education can be obtained at the undergraduate level. To become a lawyer, a student must first achieve a Bachelor's degree and then pass the Chinese bar, which is called the China National Judicial Examination (zhongguo guojia sifa kaoshi).

Full Answer

Can a foreigner become a lawyer in China?

However, s/he can use his/her American legal training to work for an American firm’s office in China. Foreign law firms are prohibited from practicing Chinese law, which means they cannot engage in legal practice that might involve the interpretation of Chinese law. Foreign firms may, however, perform legal services that do not involve Chinese law.

How long does it take to become a lawyer in China?

So, once you have graduated from law school, if you worked for seven months in America, then five months in China, then another seven months in America, and then another five months in China, you would have satisfied the two-year practice requirement and would then be allowed to work year-round in China.

What is the difference between Chinese law school and American Law School?

Additionally, whereas in America the majority of law school graduates will pass the bar and become eligible to work as lawyers, in China the judicial examination pass rate is only about 10%.

Why do American lawyers want to work in China?

Along with increased foreign business involvement in China has come increased demand for corporate legal services, leading many firms to establish offices in Beijing or Shanghai and offering American lawyers the opportunity to work in China.

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How long does it take to become a lawyer in China?

Legal Education in China Universities offer three year law programs in China. After graduation, the student needs two or more years of experience working in the legal field before they are eligible to take an examination that is only offered two times a year.

Can foreigners become lawyers in China?

China offers excellent opportunities for foreigners holding a Law degree. Employment market for foreigners in different area of Law is growing fast in China, and many new positions in most Chinese law firms and universities are becoming available.

Can I work as a lawyer in China?

You still cannot “practice” law in China, but you can work there. Generally, the best way to do this is to spend your first few years practicing law at a major US London law firm and then go to China to practice for a couple more years.

Is lawyer a good career in China?

In 2018, there were around 423,758 lawyers in China compared to the US, with over 1.3 million. For this reason, international students who are taking law degrees in China have a bright future ahead of them, not only working in the judicial system but in wide range of industries.

Is studying law in China worth it?

In addition to academic excellence, China is an excellent place to study Law because of it gives you access to China's top legal scholars, leading lawyers, judges, business and political leaders.

Is there a bar exam in China?

Anyone who wants to become a Chinese lawyer must pass the bar exam, i.e., the national unified legal profession qualification examination, and obtain the legal profession qualification.

Are lawyers in China paid well?

Salary Recap The average pay for a Lawyer is CNY 425,871 a year and CNY 205 an hour in China. The average salary range for a Lawyer is between CNY 296,469 and CNY 536,885. On average, a Master's Degree is the highest level of education for a Lawyer.

Who can practice law in China?

As in the United States, a foreign law degree does not license one to practice law in China; in both countries, only people who have passed that country's bar exam may practice law. China is unlike the US, however, in that it does not allow non-citizens to sit the Chinese bar.

Are there Chinese lawyers?

At present, there are more than 11,000 law firms in China, staffed by more than 118,000 lawyers. The practice of law has also gradually progressed into new areas such as finance, real estate, and to a lesser extent, human rights.

How much do Hong Kong lawyers make?

A person working as a Lawyer in Hong Kong typically earns around 69,600 HKD per month. Salaries range from 32,700 HKD (lowest) to 110,000 HKD (highest). This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Lawyer salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location.

Is law an easy career?

The job of a lawyer is very demanding and requires extreme concentration as you have to work on several cases simultaneously. Working hours are too long and you cannot afford to become lethargic as it is a highly competitive field. Remember, it is a lengthy process and it is hard to stick to it.

Is it hard to become a lawyer in Hong Kong?

Because of the profession's prestige, places for law school are always highly competitive. Realistically, you're going to need a full set of As and Bs on your report card to have even a chance of getting in, whether you're pursuing your degree in Hong Kong or elsewhere.