OLQE 2024

Our Interactive Seminars are held entirely remotely using Zoom online streaming.  This ensures your safety during the present public health crisis.

The Seminars take place in “real time” and you will participate fully by answering questions posed by the lecturers and by asking your own questions.  However, you will not need to attend class in person. 

ABOUT IP LEARNING

IP Learning is a professional training company, offering a range of courses to lawyers and law students worldwide and is  the longest-established provider of preparatory training for the OLQE.

Our mission is to provide professional training courses of the highest possible quality in an efficient and effective manner. We encourage active learning, which comprises of practical problem solving methods and small group teaching sessions. Whether you study in Hong Kong or in your home country, you will receive the same personal attention and outstanding tuition from our dedicated and highly experienced tutors.

The OLQE is a practical law examination. The OLQE is held once a year. The OLQE 2024 Examinations will be held between October and November 2024. The OLQE Examiners will expect candidates to have attained the standard of a newly-qualified solicitor in Hong Kong. The OLQE Examiners will therefore expect candidates to demonstrate the knowledge equivalent to that which would be acquired during a Hong Kong law degree, the Hong Kong profession legal training course (PCLL) and a two-year traineeship with a Hong Kong law firm.

THE IP LEARNING PREPARATORY COURSE FOR THE OVERSEAS LAWYERS QUALIFICATION EXAMINATION: A COURSE PROVIDED BY LAWYERS FOR LAWYERS

The IP Learning Preparatory Course for the OLQE was designed by a group of Hong Kong lawyers who were convinced that they were able to offer a more effective OLQE Preparatory Course than any of the Preparatory Courses previously available.

We listened carefully to candidates who had sat the OLQE in previous years and, based on their experiences, set out to design a Course that would ensure that as many candidates as possible passed the OLQE at their first attempt.

As our Course has always been run by lawyers for lawyers, we are able to ensure that it fully meets the needs of each of our candidates. Our course is practical and examination-focused. Not only will we teach you the law, we will also teach you the skills in applying the legal concepts and principles in the manner necessary to pass the OLQE.

We are aware that your time is extremely valuable and that most of you will be studying for the OLQE whilst working full time in a demanding job. We have therefore strived to make our Course as time-efficient as possible.

We know the difference that passing the OLQE could make to your career. Our lecturers are therefore prepared to generously give their time to ensure that you pass the Examination. Our E-mail Q&A service has proved a priceless resource for many of our candidates in the days leading up to the Examination.

WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE IP LEARNING PREPARATORY COURSE FOR THE OLQE 2024?

Our Interactive Examination-Focused Teaching Method

Our teaching method reflects our fundamental philosophy that you will learn most effectively by working out practical solutions to the type of questions that you will meet in the actual examination.  Research studies show that students retain less than 25% of the information delivered by the traditional lecture format but that the retention level goes up to 90% when the students take an active part in the learning process.  We therefore teach using a highly effective interactive teaching method which will give you the best possible chance of passing the OLQE 2024. 

Our Expert Teaching Team

The IP Learning Preparatory Course for the OLQE 2024 will be taught by the same distinguished team of practising Hong Kong lawyers which have over the years helped numerous foreign lawyers pass the OLQE and qualify as Hong Kong Solicitors.  Each of our main lecturers has taught on our Course from the start and each has a wealth of experience preparing candidates for the OLQE.

Concise Examination-Focused Course Notes

You will receive a full set of written course notes concisely setting out the applicable legal principles and the cases in a manner which is both easy to understand and easy to incorporate into your answers during the open book OLQE examination.

Our Pre-Recorded Lecture Series

We have prepared a full pre-recorded lecture series for each head of the OLQE 2024.  These pre-recorded lectures can be easily downloaded onto your smartphone or device and listened to whilst travelling or during spare moments.  By listening to these pre-recorded lectures, you will be able to become fully familiar with each topic in advance of our interactive seminars, thereby ensuring maximum possible return from the contact teaching time.

Mock Examination

During the Course, you will be given the opportunity to sit a Mock Examination which will be individually marked by your lecturers.  The detailed feedback provided by the lecturers will allow you to know, well in advance of the actual examination, the areas on which you will need to concentrate in order to ensure success.

For more information about IP Learning and the OLQE, please click here.

THE OVERSEAS LAWYERS QUALIFICATION EXAMINATION

The Overseas Lawyers Qualification Examination (OLQE) is an annual examination set by the Law Society of Hong Kong. If you are a qualified lawyer from another jurisdiction, by passing the OLQE, you will become eligible to qualify as a lawyer in Hong Kong. Refer to the OLQE Information Package issued by the Law Society of Hong Kong http://www.hklawsoc.org.hk/pub_e/admission/Foreignlawyers/pdf/fl-info.pdf for detailed information regarding the Examination and registration procedures.

The OLQE is a practical law examination. The OLQE is held once a year. The OLQE 2024 Examinations will be held between October and November 2024. The OLQE Examiners will expect candidates to have attained the standard of a newly-qualified solicitor in Hong Kong. The OLQE Examiners will therefore expect candidates to demonstrate the knowledge equivalent to that which would be acquired during a Hong Kong law degree, the Hong Kong profession legal training course (PCLL) and a two-year traineeship with a Hong Kong law firm.

SUBJECTS

The Examination comprises of SIX subjects, out of which, five are written examinations and one is an oral examination:

Written Examinations:
Head I Conveyancing
Head II Civil & Criminal Procedure
Head III Commercial & Company Law
Head IV Accounts & Professional Conduct
Head VI Hong Kong Constitutional Law

Oral Examination:
Head V Principles of Common Law is an oral examination on the Principles of Common Law.
*Lawyers admitted in a common law jurisdiction are not required to take Head V.

FORMAT OF THE WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS

Four of the five written papers are open-book examinations of 3½ hours duration, with Head IV being an open-book Examination of 4 hours and 15 minutes duration. There is no specific reading time. In Heads I, II, III & VI, candidates are required to attempt 4 questions out of 5. Head IV is divided into two parts: Part A – Accounts; Part B – Professional Conduct; candidates must pass both parts to achieve a pass in Head IV.

FORMAT OF THE ORAL EXAMINATION

Head V is a closed book, oral examination of up to 2 hours duration, which includes 45 minutes of reading time. For detailed instructions you should view the past examination papers included in the OLQE Information Package.

ELIGIBILITY TO SIT THE OLQE

In order to be eligible to sit the OLQE you must satisfy ALL requirements set by the Law Society below, you:
a) are entitled to practise law in a jurisdiction outside Hong Kong;
b) are in good standing in that jurisdiction (and any additional jurisdiction in which you are admitted) and;
c) have at least: i) 2 years of post-admission experience in the practice of law in a common law jurisdiction
(including any period credited in respect of articles or equivalent), ; or
ii) 5 years experience in the practice of law in a non-common law jurisdiction

APPLICATION TO SIT THE EXAMINATION AND EXEMPTIONS

The application to sit the examination and for exemptions must be made in Form A in the Information Package and be submitted to the Department of Standards and Development, together with all relevant documentation. A non-refundable processing fee is payable by cheque or telegraphic transfer.

You may apply for exemption from sitting any of the Heads of the examination if you can demonstrate to the Law Society that you have 5 or more years of experience in the practice of law.

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OUR EXPERT OLQE TRAINERS

Colin Wright

Colin Wright was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1987.  Colin first came to Hong Kong in 1991, working originally with a firm of solicitors.  In 1999, he was admitted as a barrister in Hong Kong.  Colin has appeared as Counsel in many leading Conveyancing and Civil cases at all levels of the superior courts in Hong Kong, including the Court of Final Appeal.  He has combined an extensive practice as a barrister with his teaching responsibilities.  He taught at the University of Hong Kong as a part-time tutor in law between 2001 and 2006. Since 2006, he has taught on the IP Learning Preparatory Course for the OLQE.

Colin is ranked in the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2021 as a leading practitioner.  He is ranked for Shipping & Commodities (Tier 1) and Commercial (Tier 2).  He is described as “A persuasive and committed advocate.”

Colin has been a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators since 1998.  Colin has appeared as Counsel in many of leading civil cases in recent years including:

• • Libertarian Investments v Hall (2013) 16 HKCFAR 681 (Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal; duties of fiduciaries)
  • The Pontodamon [2011] 5 HKLRD 126 (Collision between two vessels at sea)
  • Cogi v Incorporated Owners of Malahon Apartments (Court of Appeal; obligations  of  incorporated  owners  under  a  deed  of  mutual  covenant)
  • Tradepower (Holdings) Ltd v Tradepower Ltd [2010] 1 HKC 380 (Court of Final Appeal; claim under section 60 of the Conveyancing and Property Ordinance)
  • Carewins v Bright Fortune Ltd (2009) 16 HKCFAR 681 (Court of Final Appeal; liability of carrier for misdelivery of goods shipped under a straight bill of lading)
  • World Fuel Services v Florens [2007] 3 HKC 332 (Court of Final Appeal; jurisdiction to order costs against a funder of litigation)
  • Bank of China v Fung [2003] 1 HKLRD 181 (Court of Final Appeal; mortgagee’s claim for possession)
  • Daiwa Bank v Foco Woollen Yarns [2002] 3 HKC 258 (mortgagee’s claim for possession)
  • Wellfit Investments Ltd v Poly Commence Ltd [1997] 2 HKC 236 (Hong Kong style completion; vendor’s right to rescind; one of the last appeals from Hong Kong to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council)

David is a specialist in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and related legislation.  David started teaching in 1989 when he headed up Ernst and Young’s client training team. He has been teaching the details of Hong Kong securities legislation since 2003, when he headed up the Hong Kong office of an international financial training company.

David completed his MBA at Cranfield School of Management in 1987 and became a CFA Charterholder in 2000.  In 2008, David successfully completed a PhD with the University of South Australia.

John Brewer

John Brewer graduated in law and thereafter joined the Secretary’s office of British Aerospace plc. He moved to Hong Kong in 1984 and managed the companies departments of leading law and accountancy firms and acted as General Counsel of public companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ.

John was called to the Hong Kong bar in 2002. John’s practice at the bar includes companies and securities litigation, commercial fraud and disciplinary cases. He is the author of The Hong Kong Private Company (Butterwoths, 1989 and 1995) and The Law and Practice of Hong Kong Companies (Sweet & Maxwell, 2009).

John has taught on the IP Learning Preparatory Course for the OLQE since 2006.

John has also taught as a part-time tutor on City University’s PCLL Course since 2006. John has also taught as a part time tutor on City University’s PCLL Course and is a past examiner in Hong Kong Company Law for the Institute of Company Secretaries.

Connie Carmichael

Connie Carmichael is a qualified accountant with more than 25 years of accounting experience gained in Hong Kong, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. She has taught the Accounts Course for the PCLL Course at the University of Hong Kong. Connie has taught on the IP Learning Preparatory Course for the OLQE since 2006.

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Benny Lo

Benny obtained his combined degree in law and science (majoring in pharmacology) from the University of New South Wales in 2009.  He was called to the Hong Kong Bar in 2012.

Benny has considerable experience in criminal work and has defended in various departmental summons cases, including the summons cases concerned with a fatal accident at the Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link (led by Mr. Raymond Pierce), and the partial collapse of the Former Central Police Station (Tai Kwun) (led by Mr. Colin Wright).  Benny has also appeared as junior counsel in commercial fraud cases in the High Court (led by Mr. Edwin Choy S.C.).

In his civil practice, Benny has a particular focus on personal injuries matters.  He also has experience in conducting cases on medical negligence and fatal accident claims.

Jamie Barr

Jamie worked as a corporate finance and M&A lawyer in Hong Kong and London for 25 years, advising on all equity-related matters from M&A to equity capital markets transactions, including joint ventures and private equity. He worked for a further six years as an investment banker in London.

He was one of Hogan Lovells’ most highly ranked M&A lawyers, and the firm’s most highly ranked M&A lawyer in Asia, with a tier 2 ranking by Chambers. He was listed as a Leading Individual in China and Hong Kong Capital Markets in all legal directories. He was nominated as “Hong Kong Dealmaker of the year 2014” in the 2014 Asia Legal Business awards.

He headed the Hong Kong and Asia Corporate practices of Lovells and Hogan Lovells for 10 years. During his tenure he initiated a regional training programme to deliver regular and progressive training to the firm’s corporate lawyers in Asia. This included acclaimed foundation and continuation training courses to help develop lawyers’ skills in line with their increasing seniority.

In his leadership role Jamie was closely involved in mentoring and coaching lawyers and partners across Asia, and over 10 years brought four of his lawyers through to partnership at Lovells and Hogan Lovells in Hong Kong.

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Contact Information
Address: 9th Floor,
12-13 Jubilee Street,
Central, Hong Kong

Email: enquiries@ip-learning.com

Telephone: +852 2858 1000
Fax:              +852 2858 8882