Chinese Delegation Visits College of Law
August 9, 2007
Chinese academic and government officials visit the College of Law
The College of Law hosted a group of Chinese academic and government officials July 27 as part of a program to acquaint legal educators and senior Justice Ministry officials from the Peoples' Republic of China with legal education and the administration of justice in the U.S.
The 18 Chinese visitors' agenda featured a wide spectrum of insights into American law and society with their two-week sojourn in Georgia including introductions to legal education at Georgia State, Emory University and the University of Georgia.
In addition, the Chinese officials attended orientation briefings sponsored by the State Bar of Georgia and meetings with judges and attorneys throughout the state, including the Georgia Supreme Court. Former President Jimmy Carter supported their program by welcoming the group to his Sunday School class in Plains.
Among the distinguished guests in the Chinese delegation were Justice Wenpu Dong, a Senior Judge of the Supreme People's Court of China; Dean Hui Deng, the Dean of the Law School at Jiangxi University of Finance & Economics; and Dean Xuan Li, Vice Dean of the Law School, Central University of Finance & Economics in Beijing. Representatives of the Political and Legal Commission of the Central Government of China; the Law School of Nankai University; Dalian Maritime University; and the Shanghai Superior Court were also members of the visiting contingent.
Before arriving in Georgia, the Chinese delegation had the opportunity to see Washington, D.C., including visits to the United States Capitol and the federal Supreme Court.
While at the College of Law, the visitors heard Vickie Brown, Director of the Office of Career Services, address issues in law school placement, organization and services delivery -- functions that are largely unknown within the structure of Chinese legal education. Dr. Cheryl Jester-George acquainted the Chinese officials with law school admissions practices, procedure and policy. The evolution and administration of joint degree programs in the College of Law were described for the visitors by Professor Ron W. Blasi. Associate Dean Roy Sobelson provided the guests with a detailed overview of the academic program of the College of Law and introduced them to the history, structure and philosophy of legal education at Georgia State.
A special role in the visitors' program was assigned to COL Professor Andi Curcio, who recently returned to Georgia State from a semester-long visit in China under the sponsorship of the Fulbright academic exchange service.
Dr. Ken Jin of Kennesaw State University and Professor E. R. Lanier of Georgia State coordinated the program for the People's Republic of China visitors on behalf of their respective universities