UC Davis Law, China University of Political Science and Law offer eighth summer program

This summer, UC Davis School of Law and the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), one of China’s top law schools, offered their eighth Joint Summer Program. This year, 32 students from two Chinese universities (CUPL and University of Shanghai ) attended the program. Three CUPL faculty members also joined the students and have attended classes and undertaken research while at the law school.

As in the past, the program offers an excellent overview of the U.S. legal system. Many UC Davis Law faculty members, including Professor Emeritus Alan Brownstein and Professors David Horton, Lisa Ikemoto, Irene Joe, Elizabeth Joh, Albert Lin, Shayak Sarkar, Darien Shanske, Donna Shestowsky, Clay Tanaka and Carter White, teach in the program.

Associate Director for International Programs and Professor Johann Morri, academic leader of the CUPL programs, notes, “These are gifted and talented students who are eager to learn about the U.S. legal system. Our faculty very much enjoys teaching them. The students learn an enormous amount not only about the law but also about U.S. legal education and our culture.” As Adriana Aguena, international partnership coordinator and administrative coordinator of the program, remarks: "The program is a unique combination of classes and field trips (to) trial court, appellate court, the legislature.”

One of the strengths of the program is the interaction between professors and students. In the words of program participant Ruikang Zhang, “When we are interacting with each other, we can acquire knowledge in a more effective way, and professors can answer our questions.”

According to Beth Greenwood, associate dean for international programs, “The academic joint programs with CUPL reflect the 13-year strategic partnership between CUPL and UC Davis School of Law. We are deeply appreciative of our special relationship and look forward to our continuing work together.”