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Project Details
Funding Scheme : General Research Fund
Project Number : 17601018
Project Title(English) : An Empirical and Comparative Study of Law Students’ Perceptions of Their Values in Four Emerging and Transitional Economies: China, Russia, South Africa and Kazakhstan  
Project Title(Chinese) : 四個新興和轉型經濟的國家法律學生價值觀的實證與比較研究：中國，俄羅斯，南非和哈薩克斯坦 
Principal Investigator(English) : Dr Wu, Richard Wai Sang 
Principal Investigator(Chinese) :  
Department : Department of Professional Legal Education
Institution : The University of Hong Kong
E-mail Address : richwswu@hku.hk 
Tel : 39172970 
Co - Investigator(s) :
Mr Alimanov, Zhanat
Prof Evans, Adrian Hellier
Dr Kiseleva, Ekaterina
Dr Kruuse, Helen
Dr Leung, Lai-kuen, Grace
Dr Lin, Yu Hsin
Dr Liu, Sida
Dr Tsang, King Fung Dicky
Panel : Humanities, Social Sciences
Subject Area : Social and Behavioural Sciences
Exercise Year : 2018 / 19
Fund Approved : 918,160
Project Status : Completed
Completion Date : 31-12-2022
Project Objectives :
To identify and compare the values that are characteristic of law students in China, Russia, South Africa and Kazakhstan
To assess the significance of values in the decision-making process of law students in these four emerging and transitional economies
To investigate the effect of gender on the value orientations of law students in these four countries
To evaluate the impact of law school education on the value orientation of law students in these four countries
To investigate the contextual factors, both external and internal to law schools, in these four countries that impact the values of their students
To identify and develop strategies that can help both the governments and law schools in these four countries to reform their curricula on value development of their law students
To evaluate the similarities and differences in the value orientation of law students in these four emerging and transitional economies
Abstract as per original application
(English/Chinese):
新興和轉型經濟國家裏的法律專業在過去三十年來史無前例地增長。由於律師在司法行政中發揮重要的作用，有關其價值取向的研究有助於評估司法質素和所涉及的法律制度。對法律學生價值觀的研究有助於預測未來的法律實踐的行為和倫理決定。在西方已發展國家，包括美國及澳洲，已有關於律師和法律學生的價值研究，但在新興和轉型經濟的國家仍缺乏相關研究。 這項研究是對中國，俄羅斯，南非和哈薩克斯坦法律學生價值觀的第一個比較研究計劃，而這四個新興和轉型經濟的國家也屬於“一帶一路”國家。 本研究計劃試圖回答五個問題。首先，在中國，俄羅斯，南非和哈薩克斯坦的法律學生，哪些價值觀對他們的行為和道德決策方面上是重要的？第二，這四個新興和轉型經濟的國家的法學生共同分享的核心價值觀是什麼？第三，這些國家的法律學生在價值觀上有差異嗎？第四，這四個國家的法學生的價值層級是否存在性別差異？最後，這四個新興和轉型經濟的國家的法學生的價值取向有什麼相似之處呢？ 這些研究問題將通過對中國，俄羅斯，南非和哈薩克斯坦的法律學生進行問卷調查和半結構訪談來解答。本研究將建立在三位研究人員之前的四項研究基礎之上，包括澳洲，大中華地區，三個亞洲普通法司法管轄區，四個亞洲大陸法系國家和四個增長最快的亞洲國家。它將應用澳洲研究中使用的調查問卷，以擴大對這新興和轉型經濟的國家背景下法學生價值觀的分析。這項研究將當前研究發達國家有關律師和法學學生的價值取向研究推展到新興和轉型經濟的國家價值取向的研究。這也將有助於法律道德和專業精神的教育，以及新興和轉型經濟的國家法律學校課程改革。
Realisation of objectives: Obejctive One (to identify and compare the values that are characteristic of law students in four emerging and transitional economies) This objective was substantially achieved by questionnaire surveys undertaken with 670 law students in China (China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Jilin University, Peking University, Shandong University, Shangdong University and Tsinghua University), 60 law students in South Africa (Rhodes University) and 101 law students in Kazakhstan (Kimep University). Objective Two (to assess the significance of values in the decision-making process of law students in four emerging and transitional economies) This objective was substantially achieved by questionnaire surveys undertaken with 670 law students in China (China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Jilin University, Peking University, Shandong University, Shangdong University and Tsinghua University), 60 law students in South Africa (Rhodes University) and 101 law students in Kazakhstan (Kimep University). Objective Three (to investigate the effect of gender on the value orientations of law students in these four countries) This objective was substantially achieved by questionnaire surveys undertaken with 670 law students in China (China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Jilin University, Peking University, Shandong University, Shangdong University and Tsinghua University), 60 law students in South Africa (Rhodes University) and 101 law students in Kazakhstan (Kimep University). Objective Four (to evaluate the impact of law school education on the value orientation of law students in these four countries) This objective was substantially achieved by questionnaire surveys undertaken with 670 law students in China (China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Jilin University, Peking University, Shandong University, Shangdong University and Tsinghua University), 60 law students in South Africa (Rhodes University) and 101 law students in Kazakhstan (Kimep University). Objective Five (to investigate the contextual factors, both external and internal to law schools, in these four countries that impact the values of their students) This objective was substantially achieved by questionnaire surveys undertaken with 670 law students in China (China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Jilin University, Peking University, Shandong University, Shangdong University and Tsinghua University), 60 law students in South Africa (Rhodes University) and 101 law students in Kazakhstan (Kimep University). Objective Six (to identify and develop strategies that can help both the governments and law schools in these four countries to reform their curricula on value development of their law students) This objective was substantially achieved by questionnaire surveys undertaken with 670 law students in China (China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Jilin University, Peking University, Shandong University, Shangdong University and Tsinghua University), 60 law students in South Africa (Rhodes University) and 101 law students in Kazakhstan (Kimep University). Objective Seven (to evaluate the similarities and differences in the value orientation of law students in these four emerging and transitional economies) This objective was substantially achieved by questionnaire surveys undertaken with 670 law students in China (China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Jilin University, Peking University, Shandong University, Shangdong University and Tsinghua University), 60 law students in South Africa (Rhodes University) and 101 law students in Kazakhstan (Kimep University). The project objectives could not be fully realized in the four emerging and transitional economies, particularly in Russia, for two unexpected events that took place after commencement of the project. Firstly, the Covid-19 broke out in January 2020 and only ended in May 2023, that is, when the project period had ended on 31 December 2022. Secondly, the Russian-Ukrainian War broke out in February 2022 and is still ongoing at the time of completion of this Final Report. These two unexpected events profoundly impacted the full realization of the objectives in the four emerging and transitional economies. The impact is particularly serious in Russia, as the local research team member could hardly conduct the research propject in that country after the outrbeak of Covid-19 in January 2021 and the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian War in February 2022. It is worthy mentioning that the governments of China, Russia, Kazakhstan and South Africa imposed travel restriction and lockdowns after the outbreak of the Covid-19 in January 2021, which interrupted the planned data collection activities. What is more, law schools were closed in the four countries during the national lockdowns, and our local research team members were not able to undertake the investigation on the values of the law students and local strategies for education reform on value development of the law students. The national lockdown also substantially delayed the progress of data analysis undertaken by the local research team members in the four countries, as well as the subsequent preparation of conference papers and journal articles based on the findings. In summary, the whole research project was underacheived because of the outbreak of Covid-19 in January 2020 and the Russian-Ukrainian War in February 2022.
Summary of objectives addressed:
Objectives Addressed Percentage achieved
1.To identify and compare the values that are characteristic of law students in China, Russia, South Africa and Kazakhstan;Yes75%
2.To assess the significance of values in the decision-making process of law students in these four emerging and transitional economies;Yes75%
3.To investigate the effect of gender on the value orientations of law students in these four countries;Yes75%
4.To evaluate the impact of law school education on the value orientation of law students in these four countries;Yes75%
5.To investigate the contextual factors, both external and internal to law schools, in these four countries that impact the values of their students;Yes75%
6.To identify and develop strategies that can help both the governments and law schools in these four countries to reform their curricula on value development of their law students;Yes80%
7.To evaluate the similarities and differences in the value orientation of law students in these four emerging and transitional economies;Yes80%
Research Outcome
Major findings and research outcome: 1. Law students in many emerging and transitional economies demonstrate strong personal values of family loyalty and family members' well-being. 2. Law students in emerging and transitional economies displayed different ethical values in decision-making processes. The responses to the scenarios were similar to those in developed countries like Australia but the motivating values for the responses were different. 3. Law students in some emerging and transitional economies rated personal values over professional values, such as 'employment prospects' and 'commercial advantage'. 4. Law students in some emerging and transitional economies developed ethical values like "obedience to the law firm partner" and "loyalty to the firm". 5. There is a pattern of feminization in legal education in some emerging and transitional economies. 6. Law schools in emerging and transitional economies should strengten the ethical values of their law students by developing their 'personal conscience', 'ethics of duty' and 'ethics of aspiration' to equip them to address ethical dilemmas in future.
Potential for further development of the research
and the proposed course of action:		 The research provides the foundation for further research on law students' personal and professional values in other emerging and transitional economies other than China, Russia, South Africa and Kazakhstan, such as Vietnam and Cambodia. It is also proposed to expand the research to African countries. The latter seem to have a broader understanding of the role of legal ethics in their societies, particularly in their efforts to combat corruption.
Layman's Summary of
Completion Report:		 This research is a study of the ethical values of four emerging and transitional economies: China, Russia, South Africa and Kazakhstan. It found that law students in emerging and transitional economies focused more on personal values than professional values in their decision making process. This study recommends law schools in emerging and transitional economies should promote legal ethics education to cultivate the awareness of legal professionalism among their law students. This project is crucial in understanding the values of law students in emerging and transitional economies. The findings reveal the importance of promoting legal ethics and professionalism among future lawyers in emerging and transitional economies. Overall, the project is significant as it represents the first study of the values of law students in emerging and transitional economies. It has contributed to the academic discourse on the comparative study of ethical values of law students.
Research Output
Peer-reviewed journal publication(s)
arising directly from this research project :
(* denotes the corresponding author)
Year of
Publication		 Author(s) Title and Journal/Book Accessible from Institution Repository
2020 Richard Wu*,. Carlos Lo and Ning Liu  Legal Professionalism and the Ethical Challenge for Legal Education; Insights from a Comparative Study of Future Lawyers in Greater China  No 
Richard Wu* & Jenn To  Empirical Study of Values of Law Students in Kazakhstan  No 
Richard Wu* & Tony Lin  An Empirical Study of Values of Law Students in South Africa  No 
Recognized international conference(s)
in which paper(s) related to this research
project was/were delivered :
Month/Year/City Title Conference Name
Hong Kong Reforming and Regulating Legal Education and Admission to Practice in the Greater China Region in an Age of Globalisation: A Comparative Study of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan  International Conference on Higher Education in Greater China: Change, Contradiction and the State 
Hong Kong Cross-System Study of Career Orientations of Future Lawyers: Implications for Legal Professionalism and Ethics in Greater China  International Conference on Global Regulatory Governance 
Los Angeles An Empirical Study of Ethical Values of Law Students in China  International Legal Ethics Conference 2022 
Los Angeles Values of Law Students in South Africa: Old Findings and New Research  International Legal Ethics Conference 2022 
Los Angeles A Preliminary Study of Values of Law Students in Kazakhstan  International Legal Ethics Conference 2022 
Other impact
(e.g. award of patents or prizes,
collaboration with other research institutions,
technology transfer, etc.):
  SCREEN ID: SCRRM00542