Thomas Jefferson School of Law Celebrates its 10th Anniversary of the China Study Abroad Program

SAN DIEGO, CA, 9/7/16 – Over the summer, 26 students from Thomas Jefferson School of Law participated in the China Study Abroad Program in the South East part of China at the Zhejiang University Guanghua School of Law in the city of Hangzhou. The program was from May 16th to June 3rd.

Five Chinese students from the Zhejiang University Guanghua School of Law also participated in the program and added a truly international perspective to the courses offered. All students stayed in the Lakeview Hotel in downtown Hangzhou across the street from Westlake.

Thomas Jefferson School of Law faculty and staff included Professor and Director of the Summer Study Abroad Program Susan Tiefenbrun, Professor Kevin Jerome Greene, Professor Jeff Slattery and Program Administrator Randy Ward.

Zhejiang University Guanghua School of Law faculty included Professor Yongxin Song, Professor Hongdao Qian, Assistant Dean Leslie Kuan-Hsi Wang and Professor Jun Zhao.

The program took place at Zhejiang University, which is the third most prestigious university in all of China, and the Chinese law students who participated free of charge in our program are some of the brightest students in all of China. The popularity and success of this program are due to the location of the program near cosmopolitan Shanghai, the ease of travel from Hangzhou to other parts of China, and its exquisite setting with pagodas, shrines, and weeping willow trees overlooking the well-known West Lake where beautiful boats in the shape of a dragon offer students a wonderful afternoon experience. The beauty of Hangzhou and the intensity and high quality of the instruction in this program make it one of the most popular events at Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

All the students registered in the China Program were able to choose 2 out of the 4 courses offered: International Business Transactions; International Entertainment Law; International Intellectual Property, and Chinese Legal System and its Reforms (taught by four Chinese professors). Each course is worth two credits. Two of the four classes met from 8:30-10:20 am, and two classes met from 10:30 am-12:20 pm every day of the week except Saturday and Sunday.

"I created the China Program 11 years ago, and I continue to direct it and teach in it every year because I am excited by China's rich culture, its daunting but beautiful language and its developing laws and legal reforms," Professor Susan Tiefenbrun. "The China Program is an opportunity to study international law in China together with Chinese students, Chinese professors (in English), and American law students."

Students participated in three organized weekend trips: a half-day tour of Hangzhou, a two-day trip to Shanghai (great shopping and spectacular art), and a three-day trip to Beijing. Students in Shanghai visited one of the biggest Chinese law firms specializing in international business transactions (Allbright Law Firm) where the managing partner gave all of us a wonderful presentation about a typical international trade deal.

On the trip to Beijing, three or four Chinese Supreme Court Justices of the Beijing Peoples' Supreme Court gave an informative presentation about legal reforms underway in China. This program is the only program in the United States where students are permitted to visit the Beijing Peoples' Supreme Court. The classes all ended at 12:20 pm, except for an occasional one-hour lecture by distinguished guest lecturers.

"Everything was amazing. It is an amazing opportunity that should not be missed by anyone. I really enjoyed this program, and hope to be back next summer," said attendee. "The highlight of the China Program has been the experience of being a part of Thomas Jefferson School of Law abroad, submerged in a wonderful culture. The classes are outstanding, and the trips are wonderful. This is truly an opportunity of a lifetime!"

Thomas Jefferson School of Law offers a comprehensive legal education to a nationally-based, diverse student body. The non-profit law school is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse law schools in the nation, with 52 percent of its most recent class being students of color. Located in Downtown San Diego, Thomas Jefferson Law has evolved into an innovative, cutting-edge law school, devoted to the individual needs and success of its students. More information is available at www.tjsl.edu.

CONTACT: Thomas Jefferson School of Law Director of Marketing and Communications Edgar Hopida, 619-961-4314 or 619-913-0719, ehopida@tjsl.edu