Five Things I Wish I Knew Before Going to Law School

7 February 2026

4:00 AM - 5:00 AM

Grand Ballroom, 16/F, Hopewell Hotel

Have you received an offer to study Law, feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty about the journey ahead? How can you best prepare for the transition from a 'student mindset' to a 'legal professional mindset'? This session features two distinguished young professionals, Matt Lau and Marco Kwok, who have successfully carved their paths in the international legal arena. They will share candid insights as 'seasoned peers', discussing five crucial things they genuinely wish they had known before stepping into law school. This is not a lecture on law, but a sincere conversation about career preparation, mindset shifts, and professional realities. In this session, you will learn about: The Mindset Shift: Law school teaches more than just knowledge; it cultivates a new mode of thinking and problem-solving. How can you prepare for this in advance? Bridging the Theory-Practice Gap: How does legal theory from textbooks differ from real-world legal work? How can you start closing this gap during your university years? The Advantages of a UK Legal Education: How does the UK education system, from A-levels to an LLB, systematically cultivate legal talent? Our speakers will share their personal experiences and gains from studying in the UK. Diverse Career Pathways: From in-house counsel at a multinational corporation to a practising barrister, what different skills and preparations do these distinct career paths require? Speakers: Matt Lau – Legal Counsel, State Street Marco Kwok – Barrister-at-Law, Hong Kong Speaker Profiles: Matt Lau Matt currently serves as Legal Counsel at State Street, a leading international financial institution. His educational journey began in the UK at Old Swinford Hospital, where he studied Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Economics, and Chinese at A-level. He then earned his LLB from the University of Bristol and completed the Legal Practice Course (LPC) combined with an MSc in Law, Business and Management at The University of Law in the UK. Matt's career path demonstrates the core value and broad application of a legal background within the multinational corporate finance sector. Marco Kwok Marco is currently a practising Barrister-at-Law in Hong Kong and a Partner at Paul W. Tse & Co. He obtained his LLB from the University of Sheffield in the UK, establishing a solid foundation in Common Law. He subsequently returned to Hong Kong to pursue his Master of Laws (LLM) and the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) at City University of Hong Kong. Marco's experience perfectly exemplifies how combining a UK legal education with local Hong Kong professional qualifications can lead to a successful career established in the competitive field of litigation.