<p>I have several questions regarding the practice of law in Hong Kong. </p>
<p>On the one hand, I heard that generally each country has its own unique legal system, and thus a J.D. degree earned in US law schools is applicable more or less only in the US (given that we’re talking only about corporate law, excluding any international law and treaty).</p>
<p>On the other hand, I looked at many profiles of attorneys in the Hong Kong, and other Asian, braches of big name law firms, and found that many of them were educatedly exclusively in the US–that is, having only a JD degree–and did not seem to have any additional degree or bar association that denote specialized knowledge in local law. </p>
<p>I’m wondering whether Hong Kong has a legal system so similar to that of the US that it would not be difficult for a JD graduate to work there. Or does a US-educated lawyer have to learn local law and take a bar exam there before he or she could practice? </p>
<p>Also, is knowing Chinese a prerequisite or a big plus if one works in international law firms in Hong Kong?</p>
<p>Today, we are living in a global world which entangles many individual countries into one legal system. Even though they have their own legal systems, in business world, especially when multi-national businesses come into play, they need one legal system that works best for everybody. Usually the troubleshooting system used to solve international affairs is US and UK law. That is why many foreign lawyers who work with foreign businesses have to have strong background in US legal system. Most of the international documents are prepared in English and that is why English skill is critical whether or not you are an American lawyer.
Obviously, as an American lawyer, you can not stand before the Hong Kong Justice to defend chinese criminal or business. That being said, if you are an American Lawyer who work in Hong Kong, you’re most likely an advisor of multi-national corporation.
To answer your question about being able to speak Chinese, I would say Yes! it can be a plus, but be aware! because these people you are dealing with are professionals and you better speak it good and know their culture at the same time, otherwise it could be worse than nothing.</p>