USAI-Szymanski Rule of Law Program for US Students

Overview

Each summer since 2016, the US-Asia Institute’s J. Matthew Szymanski Rule of Law Program has sent US law students to China for a two-week program designed to expose them to the institutions and officials of the Chinese government and legal system.

From May 19 – June 1, 2024 up to six US law students will participate in our 9th annual China Program. Travel restrictions permitting, participants will travel to Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong, where they will meet with law students, law professors, lawyers, and government officials. The US-Asia Institute will arrange and cover lodging, domestic travel, and some meals in China.

See the 2024 flyer for more details about the China program. For information on our program for Chinese law students in Washington, DC, click here.

For an update on both Rule of Law programs, please visit the Program Updates page.

For more information on both programs, please see the Program Overview.

Sponsors

This program is sponsored by the China-United States Exchange Foundation, USAI, and USAI Senior Advisor J. Matthew Szymanski, who worked for Congress from 2001-2007, and lived and taught in China from 2007-2014. Donations to USAI for this program are most welcome.

Chinese Hosts

For our China Program, three top universities generally serve as hosts: Peking University School of Transnational Law (in tropical Shenzhen), Tsinghua University (in Beijing), and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (in Shanghai). Program participants stay on or near campus as a base for that region and to get an inside view of legal education in China.

US Participants

Any US law school student or recent graduate may participate. Although English is spoken fairly widely throughout the program meetings, strong Mandarin proficiency is recommended for more meaningful participation and relationship-building opportunities. USAI will select program fellows in cooperation with participating US law schools and firms.

Eligibility Requirements

• Currently pursuing or recently received an American law degree

• Interest in Chinese law, comparative law, and/or US-China relations

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

To apply, please send all required materials to Nate Conrad at nate.conrad@usasiainstitute.org by November 1, 2023. Finalists will be contacted for a follow-up interview over Zoom, Skype, or WeChat.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT :

nate Conrad, rule of law program DIRECTOR
E-MAIL: nate.conrad@usasiainstitute.org PHONE: 202-544-3181