The Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL; 法學專業證書) is an intensive one-year full-time (or two-year part-time) professional legal qualification programme in Hong Kong. It allows graduates to proceed to legal training before qualifying to practice as either a barrister or a solicitor in Hong Kong. The "LL." of the abbreviation for the certificate is from the genitive plural legum (of lex, legis f., law). The programme can be seen as the equivalent of the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) in England and Wales, or the Certificate in Legal Practice (Malaysia) (CLP) in Malaysia which focuses heavily on practical and procedural issues in legal practice, unlike a first degree in law. Course providers There are three course providers in Hong Kong: Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) (since September 2008) The University of Hong Kong (HKU) City University of Hong Kong (CityU) Qualification as a lawyer in Hong Kong As in England and Wales, the legal profession in Hong Kong consists of two branches: solicitors and barristers. After successfully completing the PCLL: Prospective solicitors go on to complete a two-year training contract as a trainee solicitor to qualify. Prospective barristers, undertake six months of pupillage under a pupilmaster before being called to the Bar (admitted as a barrister) of Hong Kong, gaining limited rights of audience (limited practice). After six more months of pupillage, he or she can commence full practice. PCLL admission requirements To be eligible for admission to the courses leading to the PCLL, an applicant must have completed their Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or equivalent legal studies either in Hong Kong or other common law jurisdictions, or, for non-law graduates, have passed the Graduate Diploma in English and Hong Kong Law (GDEHKL) of Hong Kong or the Common Professional Examinations (CPE/GDL) of England and Wales. Applicant will have to demonstrate competence in the following eleven 'Core' subjects: Contract, Tort, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Land Law, Equity, Evidence, Business Associations, and Commercial Law; and three 'Top-up' subjects: Hong Kong Constitutional Law, Hong Kong Legal System and Hong Kong Land Law. Core subjects The degree or qualification must be in common law, and should include passes in eleven core subjects, including the following (or equivalent): Contract Tort Constitutional Law Criminal Law Property Law Law of Trusts (or Equity or Remedies). Evidence Business Associations (or Company law) Commercial Law Six of these must be completed as