Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Laws Programme

The Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Laws programme at The University of Hong Kong offers students an exciting and empowered future. This programme combines the study of law and literature, providing students with a unique understanding of the interactions between these two disciplines.

Programme Structure

The programme includes a range of courses that explore the relationship between law and literature. Some of the courses offered include:

• Introduction to Law and Literary Studies
• Law and Literature
• Law, Meaning and Interpretation
• Language and the Law
• Law and Film
• Legal Fictions: United States Citizenship and the Right to Write in America
• Advanced Legal Theory
• Sovereignty in Law, Theory and Culture
• Language Rights and Linguistic Justice
• The Beginnings of English Law and Literature

The Beginnings of English Law and Literature Course

This course examines the early history of English law, from the medieval period to the early renaissance. Students will study major literary works, such as the Old English epic, the legends of King Arthur, Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and early renaissance drama. The course focuses on how English law and literature influenced each other and how both discourses tackled questions of authority, sovereignty, and the rule of law.

Programme Outcomes

Students completing the programme will have a strong sense of the history and development of English statute and common law, familiarity with many of the canonical literary texts and authors of the medieval and renaissance periods, and a critical understanding of the interactions of pre-modern law and literature. They will also have the ability to undertake legal and literary research using primary texts and documentary artefacts from manuscript libraries and archives.

Programme Faculty

The programme is led by a team of experienced academics, including:

• Dr. Anya Adair (Director – Arts)
• Professor Christopher Hutton
• Professor Kendall Johnson
• Dr. Nick Luke (Deputy Director – Arts)
• Dr. Michael Ng
• Professor Scott Veitch
• Professor Marco Wan (Director – Law)
• Dr. John Wong

Student Experience

The programme provides students with a range of opportunities to engage with their peers and faculty members, including internships, capstone projects, and social gatherings. Students will have the chance to analyse medieval manuscripts, participate in digital research internships, and attend welcoming dinners and other social events.