The Lord Chancellor's Training Scheme for Young Chinese Lawyers is a highly successful scheme that gives outstanding commercial lawyers from the People's Republic with at least two years post-qualification experience the opportunity of spending one year in England and Hong Kong. During this year the lawyers spend about eighteen weeks studying English Law and legal English, and also complete placements with solicitors' firms and barristers' chambers in England and with a solicitors' firm in Hong Kong. The Scheme thus gives the participants practical experience of commercial law, litigation, and court procedure in the English legal system.

The Scheme began as the Practical Training Scheme in 1989, and since then over 238
Chinese lawyers have successfully participated in the Scheme. On their return to China, the experience and knowledge gained in England and Hong Kong has enabled the lawyers to expand their practice and many have gone on to found their own law firms.

Since 2001 the funding for the Scheme has been provided by the Ministry of Justice (formerly known as the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Department of Constitutional Affairs), the government ministry responsible for the administration of justice in England and Wales. The China Law Council co-operates closely with the All China Lawyers' Association (ACLA) and the Chinese Ministry of Justice in selection of the candidates and in the design of the programme content.