how to become licensed lawyer in china

by Jasper Hahn 9 min read

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 qualification certificate.

After passing the national legal professional qualification exam, the candidates must complete one year of training in a PRC law firm and pass the interview by the local lawyers' association, and then they can apply for admission as practising lawyers. The practising licence is renewed every year.Jun 1, 2021

Full Answer

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.

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.

Do I need an LLM degree to work in China?

An LL.M. degree is not necessary for an international lawyer to work in China, but it is very helpful, says Agar. “China can be a hard legal market to break into. Completing an LL.M. can be one of the best ways to gain connections or experience in China.” Additionally, Chinese language proficiency is extremely valuable, he says.

How to become a lawyer in USA?

To obtain a license for practicing law in this country, a student has to produce a thesis or to pass a final oral or written exam as well as to perform social service tasks voluntarily. The thing is that they do not have to be registered in the National Registry of Professionals.

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How to become a lawyer in China?

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 ). There are three main types of jobs for which a candidate must have passed the judicial examination: judges, prosecutors, and lawyers.

When was legal work in China published?

Legal Work in China. Published January 2011. Since Mao’s death and the fall of the Gang of Four in 1976, China’s economy has grown drastically in scale and importance. Starting with the Reforms and Openness ( gaige kaifang) under Deng Xiaoping, China has increasingly enabled private enterprise, privatized government industries, ...

How long does it take to become a lawyer?

In addition to passing the judicial examination, judges and prosecutors must also pass the civil service exam, while lawyers must complete a year of work with a law firm to be fully licensed.

Can foreign firms handle Chinese law?

Foreign firms may, however, perform legal services that do not involve Chi nese law. For instance, an American firm office could handle a Chinese company's legal affairs in America, provide consulting services regarding American or international law, and entrust matters of Chinese law to Chinese law firms on behalf of foreign clients.

Can a foreign lawyer work 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.

Can a US lawyer practice in China?

This means that, without gaining Chinese citizenship (and the fluency required to pass the bar exam), an American lawyer will never practice Chinese law.

Can Chinese lawyers practice law?

They may also be hired by foreign law firms as legal assistants. As part of the restrictions on the activities of foreign law firms, these firms are prohibited from hiring Chinese lawyers to practice Chinese law.

How to practice law in Hong Kong?

In order to qualify to practice law in Hong Kong, a candidate must first obtain a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hong Kong, the City University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong or another recognized institution under common law jurisdiction elsewhere in the world. Then, candidates have to complete a Postgraduate ...

How many law firms are there in Hong Kong?

According to the Law Society, Hong Kong is home to nearly 940 local law firms and almost 90 foreign firms, along with over 9,000 international and mainland Chinese companies seeking legal services and, in particular, Hong Kong’s world-renowned arbitration services.

Do Chinese law students need to go to law school?

But Chinese law students do not need to have graduated from law school before taking the bar. In fact, many students actually pass the bar exam midway through their LL.M. program. For international lawyers, the paths to working in China are less uniform. Unlike in some other countries, in China, foreign lawyers are not eligible to take ...

Can an international lawyer work in China?

An LL.M. degree is not necessary for an international lawyer to work in China, but it is very helpful, says Agar. “China can be a hard legal market to break into.

Can foreign lawyers practice in Hong Kong?

However, foreign lawyers can now be admitted to the Hong Kong bar by obtaining an exemption form (if they have qualified to practice law in another common law jurisdiction). Or by passing a specific exam administered by the Law Society of Hong Kong, called the Overseas Lawyers Qualification Examination.

Client Protection

13. Is there a national regulator of the legal profession? In a federal jurisdiction, which body regulates the legal profession in the individual states?

Client Engagement

23. What do client engagement communications typically include? Are there any mandatory provisions that must be included? Are there separate provisions for litigation and non-litigation (transaction or advisory) matters?

Notaries

35. Are notaries required for share purchases or transfers, real estate purchases or leases, or company formation?

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

After that, they have to go to the law school for another 6 months. Finally, they have to finish the one-year internship (6 months anywhere in France and 6 months in the law firm). On the other hand, in China, after a three-year law program at University, one needs at least two years of experience working in the legal field before taking an ...

How long does it take to get a law license?

Usually, the competition of law school takes four to five years. To obtain a license for practicing law in this country, a student has to produce a thesis or to pass a final oral or written exam as well as to perform social service tasks voluntarily.

Is it easy to become a lawyer?

It is very hard to define an “easy way” (if there even is such a thing) for becoming a lawyer. Despite the fact that each country has different requirements, anyone who wants to become a lawyer needs to pass the Bar Exam, in Europe as well as in rest of world. Speaking of Europe, some of the easiest countries to become a doctor are on this ...

Do lawyers get paid?

Although lawyers do their jobs for salary, it definitely isn’t easy to balance between professional needs and moral ethics. Of course, there are various fields of law where lawyers can show their knowledge and competence, and some of them are well paid.

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