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Beijing University LLM taught in English

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blametheeye

Joined: 10 Nov 2007
Posts: 5
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Sun Nov 11, 2007 08:59 AM
Hey, wondering how this LLM is working for those involved. I spent last summer down the road at Ren Da, and loved it emmensely. Was hoping that the LLM students were having just as good a time. Check out Cro's Nest, best pizza in North (Bei) Beijing. Anyway, some things I wanted to say:

1. Ren Da is obviously the best law school in China, and I don't give a shit what people say, Bei Da is for punks!

2. I have heard that knowing Mandarin is THE MOST important thing a candidate can have when applying for a job, not knowing Chinese law. Thus, if you are not learning Mandarin while studying your LLM, you are screwing yourself.

I hope everyone is loving Beijing. I will be moving back this coming summer after I take the bar!
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michaelcorleone

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Mon Nov 12, 2007 08:31 AM
uni?

[Edited 04 Jan 2008 by michaelcorleone]
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blametheeye

Joined: 10 Nov 2007
Posts: 5
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:45 AM
Kro's, sorry, is actually kinda a jaunt from Renmin Daxue. It is actually much closer to BeiDa, like on the west side of BeiDa near the Northwest corner of the University complex. I think this is right, I am having a hard time visualizing it. Go to BeiDa and ask the most westernized person you see.
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michaelcorleone

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:41 PM
oh. okay. haha.
ar?

[Edited 04 Jan 2008 by michaelcorleone]
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blametheeye

Joined: 10 Nov 2007
Posts: 5
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Tue Nov 13, 2007 01:18 PM
I am planning on moving to Beijing to begin practice sometime next fall. I will be taking the Bar here in the states in July, and will need some time to wrap up my life here before I move.

I have considered doing an LLM, specifically with BeiDa. My desire to go through with an LLM is very low however for two reasons: 1) I am extremely tired of school, having had no break in it since I was 5yrs old, 2) I have heard that the LLM is not as important if you're practicing in China, and that having the language down pat is the most important thing. I have thus considered going to a language school for a few months when I get there to get my Mandarin up to snuff.

Are you doing an LLM at RenDa? I loved that place and would go back in a heartbeat to hang with some of my friends there. I absolutely love Beijing!
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michaelcorleone

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Wed Nov 14, 2007 03:54 PM
I am doing the

[Edited 04 Jan 2008 by michaelcorleone]
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michaelcorleone

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Wed Nov 14, 2007 03:57 PM
In reference

[Edited 04 Jan 2008 by michaelcorleone]
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michaelcorleone

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Wed Nov 14, 2007 03:58 PM
我们能不能用中文写posts？我试一下。
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michaelcorleone

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Wed Nov 14, 2007 03:59 PM
那么好！可以用中文写！：）我的中文一定会有错，不要侮辱我！：）
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blametheeye

Joined: 10 Nov 2007
Posts: 5
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Wed Nov 14, 2007 05:17 PM
Hahaha, you almost scared me away jumping into characters. I must let you know that my Chinese reading is even more limited than my speaking and understanding. About all I can get out of this last post is "Beijing" and I'm not even really sure it says that!

Anyhow, my Chinese is rather poor so I've been working on that with the Rosetta stone program here in my free time. As you said, doing school and language lessons is very difficult, and thus my plan has been to study as much as I can and then take an intensive emersion language program when I arrive in Beijing next fall. Hopefully that will be enough, but if it isn't I will just keep working on my language until I get it right.

As far as RenDa goes, I can only tell you what I know from being a student there. The people were all very nice, aside from the occassional stare that is common for westerners. The law faculty was exceptional, as were the facilities if you need to do some studying away from BeiDa.

Probably the best thing about RenDa is the Friday evening "English Corner." BeiDa may have something similar, but I haven't heard of it. Basically everyone who speak English for miles around comes to the square at the East gate entrance to RenDa, where they mill about and try to use their English with one another. They especially love when a native English speaker is present. The one time I attended I spent almost three hours talking to an enraptured group of about thirty 20-40 yr old Chinese about America. I also met a very beautiful law graduate who I continue to speak to.
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michaelcorleone

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Thu Nov 15, 2007 08:01 AM
my classmate finds it

[Edited 04 Jan 2008 by michaelcorleone]
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joannaoctavia

Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Posts: 4
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Tue Nov 20, 2007 07:55 PM
hey guys,
i was wondering whether i am eligible to apply for the beijing university LLM program because i am currently doing my undergrad degree in economics and political science, with a minor in international relations. do i have to have a bachelor of law in order to be eligible for the LLM program? also, what LLM programs does beijing university offer (aside from chinese law)? thanks!
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michaelcorleone

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Wed Nov 21, 2007 01:27 PM
P

[Edited 04 Jan 2008 by michaelcorleone]
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joannaoctavia

Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Posts: 4
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:59 PM
Hmm, I want to do an LLM because I want to become a Lawyer, specializing in either International Law and/or Economic Development in Third World countries. I've heard that Law requires a lot of readings though, so that sounds pretty tough...but I am willing to try catch up (if I can get in, that is, I heard from my relatives in China that Beijing U is one of the toughest to get into). I am definitely interested in the topics you mentioned, especially International Law. May I know the minimum grades required for entrance, and whether Beijing U requires LSAT/work experience?
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joannaoctavia

Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Posts: 4
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:59 PM
Oh and by the way...thank you for your answer! =)
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michaelcorleone

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Thu Nov 22, 2007 05:19 AM
P

[Edited 04 Jan 2008 by michaelcorleone]
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blametheeye

Joined: 10 Nov 2007
Posts: 5
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Fri Nov 23, 2007 07:07 AM
I would agree with Shock that a JD will go much further for you than an LLMin terms of getting you towards a practice in international law. Many people look at an LLM as a way to supplement a JD, though I suppose for more academically minded individuals the LLM could be a pursuit on its own. Just understand that an LLM will be worthless in the US without an accompanying JD. Further, as Shock says, without you being a Chinese national, you cannot sit for the Chinese bar (OMG one of my friends just wrote that she passed the PRC national bar and I am so excited for her because the pass rate is so low).

I would suggest doing a study abroad in China during the summer of your first year of law school. This would set you up perfectly, along with a course load focused on international law, to one day practice in China. The LLM can wait until you get your JD, and only if you feel unprepared to enter the Chinese legal market without it.
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confused1

Joined: 19 Dec 2007
Posts: 3
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Thu Dec 20, 2007 02:44 PM
Hi Guys,

I was accepted into the Spring 2008 class for the Tsinghua LLM program starting in Feb. I am from Australia and don't have much idea of how good the program is, its reputation (considered by local, HK and also Western standards), and what the courses are exactly like. Also I'm not sure how it stacks up to Beida's program. Can someone please provide some clarity around this? Would appreciate any and all of your insights as I am one confused person!

Sorry if you noticed this post in multiple topics since I wasn't sure which one people look at the most.


Cheers
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michaelcorleone

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Sat Dec 22, 2007 06:05 PM
:P

[Edited 04 Jan 2008 by michaelcorleone]
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michaelcorleone

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:40 AM
Hi, is anyone applying for Peking Uni's LLM here? I thought I'd update interested applicants on some recent innovations to the program. As you may know, the PKU LLM is pretty new (much like Tsinghua's LLM) so changes are coming pretty quick, in response to student needs.

1. In response to student demand for more Chinese instruction, a new course called Legal Chinese was opened. Each class, we study some Chinese text, do the vocabs and are instructed on the usage of the terms. Then next class, the first our, students prepare presentations in Mandarin using the vocabs we learned. 2nd hour is for new material.

2. The school secured some new scholarships from the Beijing Govt for students based on grades. So study hard!

3. Haha, and facilities are constantly improving. A ceiling-mounted projector was installed in the classroom so that professors can use PPT more efficiently for class lectures.

Good luck to applicants!
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Lic.Ani

Joined: 16 Mar 2008
Posts: 5
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:39 PM
Hi, I'm actually applying to both Tsinghua's LLM and Peking's. However, I don't quite understand how to make the 800 RMB payment for Beida's LL.M.

I understand that fee must be paid and included in the same mailing packet as that containing the application materials.

About this, but I don't quite get how. Does anyone know if I can I wire transfer this amount to some account to make the payment?

If this is not an option, how else can I make the payment? I'm currently in Mexico and I understand that foreign currencies and/or traveler's checks will not be accepted.

Thanks!!
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michaelcorleone

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Tue Mar 18, 2008 09:24 AM
Hi, I applied to both programs. I actually paid the applicatiion fee for both Tsinghua and PKU in US dollars (l applied last year). I wired the money to PKU then attached the evidence of transmission to PKU to my application materials. Have you contacted Laura via llmpku@gmail.com? I'm sure she can give you the details. Just message us here if you can't find Laura!
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Lic.Ani

Joined: 16 Mar 2008
Posts: 5
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:54 AM
Thanks population! I did write to her and got a response regarding the account in the Bank of China where I can transfer the money to. However, she said there wasn't a swift code and when I went to the bank, they couldn't find it with the info she gave me.

By any chance, do you still have the account info of where you sent the application money?

thanks!
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michaelcorleone

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Wed Mar 19, 2008 06:58 AM
hi, i remember i had this same problem when i applied. tsinghua has a swift code right? but pku doesn't have a swift code. i was able to send the money to pku through their bank account without supplying a swift code though. just ask the bank to try it, i guess.

oh, laura says the rules changed. they only accept rmb, no dollar this time.
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Lic.Ani

Joined: 16 Mar 2008
Posts: 5
Beijing University LLM taught in English
Mon Mar 24, 2008 01:18 AM
Thank you so much. I talked to Laura and got all the info I needed to transfer the money. Now its just a matter of waiting for their response!

:)
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