CPD Course:
Introduction to
Judicial Review

Stephen Thomson is an Assistant Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), where he leads teaching in administrative law.  Dr. Thomson holds a Ph.D. in judicial review from the University of Edinburgh (UK), where he previously taught constitutional and administrative law on a part-time basis.  In addition to his experience in the field of administrative law, Dr. Thomson is the leading authority on equitable jurisdiction in Scotland where he has written the only book on that subject.  Dr. Thomson has practical legal and commercial experience, having worked at law firms and barristers' chambers in the UK and Channel Islands.  He has acted on a consultancy basis to law firms, private clients and public bodies in Hong Kong and the UK.  Dr. Thomson is also a Legal Adviser to the Ombudsman of Hong Kong.

This is an intermediate level course on judicial review in Hong Kong.  It offers a broad overview of judicial review, beginning with its basic principles.  Delegates are guided first through important procedural aspects of review, such as the public/private divide, the leave stage and standing.  An overview is then given of the main substantive aspects of review, in particular the grounds of review such as fettering of discretion, breach of legitimate expectations, unreasonableness and procedural impropriety.  At each stage we consider relevant and contentious issues for the practitioner, with the main rules, principles and case law in judicial review being covered.

• Basic principles of judicial review
• Procedural aspects of review: the public/private divide, the leave stage (including delay, standing and arguability) and ouster clauses
• Substantive aspects of review: the grounds of judicial review (e.g. fettering of discretion, breach of legitimate expectations, unreasonableness and procedural impropriety)