LLAW3275 & LALS3016

General Course Information

1.1 Course details

Course code: LLAW3275 / LALS3016
Course name: Legal Language in Hong Kong: Issues and Directions
Programme offered under: LLB Programme / BA&LLB Programme
Semester: First
Designated research course: No
Specialization: Not applicable
Prerequisites / Co-requisites: Students taking the course will be assumed to be reasonably proficient in traditional Chinese (written) and Cantonese (oral).
Course offered to non-law students: No
Credit point value: 6 credits

1.2 Course description

This course aims to introduce law students to language issues arising out of the legal context in Hong Kong, as a unique jurisdiction which practises the common law and uses both Chinese and English as official languages. The course looks at how law affects the use and development of legal language in Hong Kong, and vice versa. The seminars will discuss various themes, and will introduce students to the legal and linguistic theories pertinent to a thorough analysis of the underlying issues. Typical topics include bilingual legislation and legal drafting, legal translation, court advocacy, and court interpretation in Hong Kong. Guest lecturers are invited to provide practical perspectives. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to apply newly acquired knowledge and multidisciplinary perspectives, in order to critically analyse and propose the way forward on the use of language in the Hong Kong legal context.

This course is certified as a communication-intensive course. The communication-intensive course badge will be visible on the student’s Academic Attainment Profile (AAP).

1.3 Course teachers

Name E-mail address Office Consultation
Course convenor Wilson Lui cywlui@connect.hku.hk N/A By email
Course convenor Edmund Cham chamske1@hku.hk; protopopov@gmail.com N/A By email

Learning Outcomes

2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course

CLO 1 Identify, describe and explain language issues arising out of various scenarios in Hong Kong legal practice and the Hong Kong legal system.

CLO 2 Enhance the ability to understand, interpret, and analyse legal language with reference to appropriate legal and linguistic theories.

CLO 3 Demonstrate an awareness of the impact of issues of legal language within the broader legal and socio-cultural context within Hong Kong and among other jurisdictions.

CLO 4 Reflect and propose future directions on issues involving legal language.

2.2 LLB Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

Please refer to the following link: https://course.law.hku.hk/llb-plo/

2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course

PLO A PLO B PLO C PLO D PLO E PLO F
CLO 1
CLO 2
CLO 3
CLO 4

Assessment(s)

3.1 Assessment Summary

Assessment task Due date Weighting Feedback method* Course learning outcomes
Class participation N/A 15% 1, 5 1, 2, 3, 4
Group presentation 20 Sept 2023 35% 1, 5 1, 2, 3, 4
Final research webpage 18 Dec 2023 50% 1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3, 4
*Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher)
1 A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle
2 Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle
3 Individual review meeting upon appointment
4 Group review meeting
5 In-class verbal feedback

3.2 Assessment Detail

To be advised by the convenor(s).

3.3 Grading Criteria

Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf

Learning Activities

4.1 Learning Activity Plan

Seminar 3 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks
Private study time: 9.5 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks

Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.

4.2 Details of Learning Activities

To be advised by the convenor(s).

Learning Resources

5.1 Resources

Reading materials: Reading materials are posted on Moodle
Core reading list: TBA
Recommended reading list: TBA

5.2 Links

Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/