FACULTY VIE W
SLU LAW IN CHINA S
aint Louis University School of Law’s connections with China date back decades. More recently, since 2000, ten Chinese students have traveled to St. Louis and graduated with their J.D. or LL.M. degrees from SLU LAW, with another scheduled to receive her J.D. in May 2015. Over the years numerous visiting scholars and faculty have spent time researching and teaching at the law school, including scholar Gao Ping who is in St. Louis for six months this academic year, researching U.S. intellectual property law, especially as applied to trademark protection.
“China’s importance today cannot easily be overstated,” said Associate Professor William P. Johnson, director of the Center for International and Comparative Law. “It is therefore critical that we offer meaningful opportunities for our students to gain deep understanding of the distinctive challenges presented by advising clients who are doing business in China. In addition, outside of the business arena, China simply has an incredibly rich cultural tradition. By engaging with Chinese institutions and forging strong ties with the people of China, we greatly enrich our law school community, which is of enormous educational value in its own right.” Through the years, several SLU LAW faculty members have taken part in scholarship in the world’s most populous country. For some, it is a singular summer trip. For others, they immerse themselves in repeat excursions or a year-long sabbatical. In the following reflections, professors Nan Kaufman, Chad Flanders and Constance Wagner provide a glimpse into their experiences teaching the law in China.
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SAINT LOUIS B RIEF