China University of Political Science and Law Students Arrive at King Hall for Innovative Fall Semester Program

Twenty-five top LL.M. and Ph.D. students from China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), one of the top law schools in China, arrived in September at UC Davis School of Law to participate in a three-month program of study on the American Legal System. This unique new program is the result of a  special relationship between UC Davis School of Law and CUPL in Beijing.

For the past several years, prominent King Hall faculty members have visited CUPL to teach and share legal research and expertise with CUPL's faculty and students, and CUPL faculty members and doctoral students have visited UC Davis School of Law in order to learn more about various aspects of law from an American point of view. UC Davis School of Law also established a student exchange program between the two law schools, and a number of top students from CUPL join the UC Davis academic year LL.M. program each August.

Beth Greenwood, Associate Dean of International Programs, notes that "faculty members at UC Davis School of Law are thrilled by this opportunity to deepen our relationship with China University of Political Science and Law. This is another stage in our long-term institutional collaboration."

The program seeks to provide an in-depth understanding of the U.S. legal system through learning the fundamentals of the common law system and first-hand experience with the Socratic method.  Faculty provide instruction on contracts, business associations, constitutional law, conflict of laws and torts, among other subjects. Students visit courts, law firms, and the California Legislature during their stay.

Edward Yang studied civil and commercial law at CUPL. "I think all the subjects are important," Yang observes. "I like learning about constitutional law, tort law, criminal law, and procedure a lot, as well as contracts--these topics are quite different in the U.S. compared to China. People's thinking pattern and values are different in the U.S., and this will make us think more widely and deeply."

"In terms of the program itself, this is an important chance for us to work on our English," says Sarah Zhou, whose graduate work focuses on jurisprudence. "The second thing is for us to learn the American legal system from real Americans talking about it."

Zhou has been taking full advantage all the opportunities King Hall affords. "Today, I attended a lunchtime lecture," she says. "UC Davis is very beautiful; there is a lot of space and nature in the campus. I see a lot of international students. I love this place."

Professor Qinghua Wang is accompanying the students during the program. Wang remembers Davis well from his time here with a previous CUPL summer group. "My experience in summer 2013 was very positive, so I wanted to come back," says Wang. "These programs are approached very seriously, and the students are treated with great kindness and friendliness. Students at CUPL have other study-abroad programs from which to choose, and the UC Davis programs are always very popular." Wang calls this fall's program "pioneering," adding that "there is a high level of faculty engagement, and it's a real experience of American law school."

"Partnership programs like this one are essential in today's global legal landscape," says Associate Dean Greenwood. This rigorous academic program for talented graduate students is intended to expand those international connections. "It continues to be our honor and pleasure to collaborate with CUPL, and we look forward to spending a wonderful fall semester with this group."

For more information about other International Law Programs, please visit law.ucdavis.edu/international or contact Kate Asche at [email protected] or 530-757-8569.