LEXLOONG is honored to invite Lawyer Xue Ke, currently working in the legal and compliance management position in the financial industry, to participate in our "LEXLOONG Chinese Legal Professionals Interview" column.
In this interview, Lawyer Xue will share how she has continuously expanded her career path in the legal field, from legal education to cross-border transactions and finally to financial legal and compliance management. Her journey is full of challenges and opportunities. Let’s listen to her growth story and learn from her wisdom and advice.
01 Educational Background
Lexloong: You obtained a Juris Doctor (JD) degree at the University of Hong Kong and later completed an LLM degree at Chicago Kent College of Law. Could you share how the learning experience for these two degrees differed? How do you think this difference has influenced your legal thinking and career development?
Xue Ke: When I was in my second year of graduate studies at China University of Political Science and Law, I participated in the school's exchange program and spent a year in the U.S., earning my LLM degree. After that, I returned to China to continue my third year of graduate study. At that time, my LLM was in Comparative Law, International Law, and International Arbitration, and there were not many choices in the program. The bigger significance of this experience was to broaden my horizons.
Back then, unlike today's students, I didn’t have a very clear career plan. I was more following the trend. At the time, foreign law, particularly related to China’s entry into the WTO and the influx of foreign capital, was very popular. In 2008, the Olympics were held, so the exam scores were high, and I decided to pursue graduate studies in international law. The LLM exchange program I joined was also one of the few options available at that time. I thought it would be a good experience to broaden my outlook and learn how to take care of myself in a foreign country.
When I was preparing for the LSAT exam during my third year, I had planned to continue my studies in the U.S. for a JD. However, a popular TV drama at the time, Cocoon, scared me to hurry and my parents to discuss whether I can give me JD money to me，Let me buy a house in Beijing, JD I will say later, my parents agreed, so I bought a small house in full payment in Beijing in 2009, also postponed the plan to read JD, I think I am very lucky, indeed to 10 years, the price of housing in Beijing has been soaring all the way.
After graduate school, I worked for three years in a foreign-related law firm in Beijing, in the financing and IPO teams. I was fortunate to work on several landmark projects during that time, as many Chinese companies were listing in the U.S. at that time. However, non-litigation lawyers' work was extremely competitive, tiring, and stressful. I often remind myself not to be like the tough mentors I had, but to teach with kindness. These three years helped me develop excellent work habits and saved up enough money for my JD tuition at the University of Hong Kong.
Later, I switched to a financial institution as a legal manager. The work intensity was much lower, though I sometimes felt like I was abandoning my professional training. So, I started preparing to apply for a JD again and was later admitted to the University of Hong Kong.
I think I was much more confused in my late twenties than younger people today. My career path was unclear, and I didn’t have a clear plan. Back then, most law students wanted to work in non-litigation fields because it was seen as high-end and well-paid. Few people went abroad for a JD, and the LLM degree was rare. When opportunities came, I just grabbed them without much thought.
It wasn’t until I studied for my JD at the University of Hong Kong that I seriously considered my career plan. During the first year, I met many outstanding people, and I accepted that I was just an ordinary person without any extraordinary talents. This realization helped me focus more clearly on what kind of career and life would truly suit me.
Lexloong: For law students who want to develop in both Hong Kong and the U.S. legal fields, what advice do you have? What factors should they consider when choosing between a JD and an LLM?
Xue Ke: You need to first ask yourself where you want to practice law, and then decide whether to pursue an LLM or a JD. To put it simply, if you want to become a U.S. lawyer, either an LLM or JD from the U.S. can allow you to sit for the bar exam. However, due to visa issues, even after completing a U.S. JD and entering Big Law, it is not easy. If you plan to practice law in Hong Kong, you need to graduate from one of the top three Hong Kong law schools (LLB or JD), apply for the PCLL, and then become a trainee lawyer. It’s a common misconception that an LLM from Hong Kong law schools can be used to apply for the PCLL.
If you choose to study for a Hong Kong JD, the first semester’s grades are crucial. Your transcript will directly determine whether you can secure a Big Law summer internship after your first year. After the summer internship, Big Law firms are likely to offer you a full-time position, including covering your PCLL tuition. Once you finish PCLL, you can directly join Big Law as a trainee lawyer. However, if you don’t get the summer internship, you will need to pay for your PCLL and apply to Big Law later, which is much harder.
Lexloong: Did you have any work or internship experience in mainland China before pursuing a JD/LLM abroad? Do you think mainland graduates should go straight to study abroad or gain work experience first?
Xue Ke: As mentioned earlier, I had work experience before going abroad. I worked in a foreign-related law firm for a few years, which gave me a head start in Hong Kong. During my JD at the University of Hong Kong, I was one of the older students in the class, so I didn’t perform as well during my first semester. However, my past work experience and networking helped me secure a recommendation for a summer internship with a U.S. law firm in Hong Kong. The internship was a great opportunity and laid the foundation for my later job opportunities.
Lexloong: Did you encounter any challenges during the job search process after completing your JD and PCLL in Hong Kong? How did you overcome them? Given the current tough job market, what advice can you share with law students from Hong Kong JD programs who want to work at international firms?
Xue Ke: I was fortunate to have a relatively smooth job search process, but this was due to both the timing and luck. Currently, with foreign law firms pulling out of China, and many offices in Beijing and Shanghai closing, competition in Hong Kong is fierce. Even after completing a JD and PCLL, only half of those who intern at Big Law during their first year can secure a permanent position afterward.
My advice is to stay calm. The so-called "senior professionals" may not always be better than you; often, they just caught a good opportunity at the right time. Don’t be too hard on yourself. There are many ways to succeed in life, and your career is just one of them. Focus on your strengths and trust that the best choice will be made in the present.
Lexloong: How did your law degree from China University of Political Science and Law lay the foundation for your further legal education? What are the differences between legal education in China, Hong Kong, and the U.S., and how did you balance these different systems?
Xue Ke: The difference is quite significant, as the legal systems are different, and the teaching methods vary accordingly. My master's degree in mainland China was in international private law, while my LLM was in comparative law, both of which focused more on theoretical aspects. In contrast, the JD program in Hong Kong is very practical and career-focused, with a strong emphasis on logical thinking and analytical skills rather than memorizing.
02 Career Development Path
Lexloong: You’ve worked at both well-known Chinese and foreign law firms and accumulated rich experience in cross-border transactions. How did you adjust your legal thinking to meet the legal demands of different cultures and markets?
Xue Ke: When I was working in cross-border transactions, it was during a time when many foreign companies were entering China. Most of the work was on behalf of the foreign investors, conducting due diligence on Chinese companies for equity acquisitions or asset mergers. Since these were domestic companies, Chinese law applied.
Now, cross-border transactions often involve Chinese companies going abroad. Legal services are more likely to involve the laws of the country where the investment targets are located. In this case, the ability to connect with reliable local legal teams in the target investment country becomes crucial.
Lexloong: Your career spans several areas of law. What motivated you to make these transitions? What do you consider the most challenging aspect of legal work, and what growth opportunities have you found through these challenges?
Xue Ke: Before joining a company, I was focused on overseas IPOs, M&A, and cross-border investments. When I joined the company, its main business was related to fixed-income investments and credit enhancement, so I had to quickly learn about various fixed-income products and legal relationships behind credit enhancement to provide more comprehensive legal support.
As I’ve progressed, my role has expanded with the company’s business. I’ve become involved in a wide range of legal areas, including PE equity investment, ABS issuance, real estate trusts, and consumer.
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