The Society for Chinese Law (SCL) is the student group for members of the Columbia Law School community with an interest in Chinese legal development, U.S.-China Relations, and legal practice in China.
The society helps Chinese-law-interested students and scholars come together to share ideas, exchange information and experiences, and to establish contacts that extend beyond the law school. The society also works to generate interest and raise awareness within the law school community about the dynamic legal developments taking place in China today.
SCL has benefited from rapidly growing interest in China’s legal development over recent years and the organization welcomes J.D. students with China interest and with prior China experience, and with an interest in working in overseas; international students; and visiting scholars. The number of actively participating members has more than doubled over recent years. Our events attract a large number of students and scholars. Read on to learn more about our lunch lecture series, career-related events, social and cultural events, and social networking, or view a list the society’s board members.
The Society for Chinese Law receives funding from the Columbia Law School Student Senate and the Center for Chinese Legal Studies. The Society of Chinese Law is also grateful for the generous support of Fangda Partners (Platinum Sponsor) and King & Wood Mallesons (Gold Sponsor). All meetings and events are open to the law school community.
Lunch Lecture Series
The society’s Lunch Lecture Series is the group’s primary way of providing CLS community with a forum for learning about recent legal developments in China from a range of U.S. academics, from Chinese visiting scholars, and from practitioners involved in both the private sector and public law. The SCL lunch series provides the Law School community the opportunity to interact with academics from leading Chinese and U.S. law schools as well as practitioners from top international law firms. Speakers over the past few years have included Robert Harris, Assistant Legal Adviser for East Asian and Pacific Affairs with the State Department; Timothy Steinart ’89, General Counsel of Alibaba; and Yu-Jie Chen, an expert in cross-strait relations..
Career-Related Events
SCL regularly sponsors events for students interested in working in China-related fields. Past events have included student panels discussing summer work opportunities in China, as well as speakers from Paul Weiss, Freshfields, Sullivan and Cromwell, Clifford Chance and others. Presentations have illuminated the challenges of Greater China legal practice and have provided information on work opportunities there.
Social and Cultural Events
Dinners, holiday celebrations, language exchanges, and other social events provide excellent opportunities for students to interact. They establish lasting connections and expand their Chinese and English language capabilities, both legal and day-to-day usage.
Faculty Advisors
Professor Benjamin L. Liebman
Professor Emeritus R. Randle Edwards
Contact: [email protected]