General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW6242 / JDOC6242 |
| Course name: | Public Interest Clinic |
| Programme offered under: | LLM Programme / JD Programme |
| Semester: | First and Second |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Credit point value: | 9 credits / 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
The Public Interest Clinic is a clinical legal education subject which combines practical experience and academic learning.
Under the supervision of the course instructors and in collaboration with legal practitioners, students will provide legal assistance to non-governmental and non-profit organizations in addition to engaging directly with clients from underserved communities, including 1) individuals seeking asylum 2) those affected by human trafficking 3) mental health patients 4) persons facing discrimination, ensuring these clients receive critical legal support tailored to their unique circumstances.
Students will work with lawyers and other professionals to provide a diverse range of services. Working in small groups on allocated projects, students will gain practical legal skills by providing assistance and information to clients.
The precise nature of the practical experience will vary depending on the needs of the relevant organisations and clients requiring assistance during the academic semester.
During the course, students will conduct in-depth interviews with clients from underserved populations to establish the scope and goals of each case, identifying key deliverables that address their specific needs. While assisting these clients, students will leverage their foundational knowledge of doctrinal law and enhance their competencies through targeted legal research, particularly in areas less familiar to them. They will be encouraged to understand the broader context of their clients’ legal situations, striving to provide comprehensive support that encompasses the full spectrum of their needs.
In addition to their direct client engagements, students will actively participate in a variety of research activities that support the broader work of the clinic. These efforts will include analyzing legal trends, evaluating procedural effectiveness, and developing educational materials that serve to inform both clients and the broader community. These projects, guided by experienced legal practitioners and utilizing advanced research tools, will enhance students’ understanding of law in practice. Such activities not only complement the practical legal experience gained but also contribute to academic growth and professional readiness in addressing complex legal challenges.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Patricia Ho | measorho@hku.hk | CLE | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:
CLO 1 Apply legal principles and doctrines to real-life client situations, particularly in representing underserved communities, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and legal frameworks involved.
CLO 2 Conduct legal research using to analyze trends to evaluate key issues within the human rights context related to procedural effectiveness, demographic insights, and the nexus between different legal and social issues.
CLO 3 Develop and demonstrate effective communication skills, including interviewing, working with interpreters and ascertaining facts in conjunction with sensitive and complex legal issues.
CLO 4 Draft a variety of legal documents and informative materials that meet the professional standards required in practice and effectively communicate rights and procedures to a non-legal audience.
CLO 5 Participate in and reflect on collaborative projects, learning to work effectively in teams and understanding the dynamics of group work in a professional legal setting.
2.2 LLM and JD Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link:
LLM – https://course.law.hku.hk/llm-plo/
JD – https://course.law.hku.hk/jd-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 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Weekly seminar, team meetings & written weekly reports | TBC | 35% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 | |
| Ongoing clinic: work throughout the semester – fieldwork, research, writing & investigation | TBC | 35% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 | |
| Final work product | TBC | 30% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
| *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
Students will be assessed on a pass/fail basis.
Learning Activities
4.1 Learning Activity Plan
| Lecture: | 3 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
| Private study and/or project working time | 9-10 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/