Objective:

The program has a focus on Chinese civil and commercial law and offers foreign law students and legal professionals an excellent opportunity to study Chinese law and legal process and engage in Chinese and comparative law research.

The two-year program is similar to the Master of Laws program offered to Chinese students and contains one year school curriculum and one year independent research and thesis writing. All of the LL.M. courses (see the Curriculum) are taught in English and specifically tailored for international students (including students from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan). The courses will be taught not only by our regular faculty but also experts from public and private practice. An academic advisor will be assigned to each student to supervise his/her research and LL.M. thesis writing. We encourage students to write publishable thesis.

Flexible Educational System

To suit the different needs of various students, our program is designed with flexibility. Students who plan to stay one semester may choose to take a minimum 12 credit hour program and get a certificate. Students who have taken a 12 credit hour program may return to complete another 14 credit hour program within two years and get a graduate diploma. Students who get a graduate diploma may apply to write a LL.M. thesis within two years to get the LL.M. degree. The LL.M. Program runs from August through June.

Degree Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 32 credits, including 26 coursework credits and 6 thesis writing credits under the supervision of a faculty member.

To qualify for the LL.M. degree, students must:

1. Successfully complete at least 26 coursework credits
2. Successfully complete 6 credits of independent research and LL.M. thesis writing under the supervision of a KoGuan faculty member within a year
3. Carry a total of no fewer than 12 coursework credits per semester
4. Spend at least two semesters in residence

For the year of independent research and LL.M. thesis writing, students are not required to stay in Shanghai.

LL.M. Program Course Schedule 2012-2013

2012-2013 Fall Semester Class Schedule

• Courses on Monday and Wednesday will be held in Room in Engineering hall at Xuhui Campus.
• “Chinese Language” and “An Overview of Chinese Culture” will be held on Room 114 in Chen Rui Qiu Building (陈瑞球楼) at Minhang Campus.(The two courses are temporarily opened to the exchange students and welcome other students to attend)
• Chinese Competition Law will be held in No. 2 Multi-media classroom in Koguan Law School at Minhang Campus. (the 2nd floor of the law school building)

2012-2013 Spring Semester Class Schedule

Tuition

The tuition for the two-year 32 credit hour program in 2010-12 is RMB 150,000: RMB 100,000 for the first year and RMB 50,000 for the second. Students should pay RMB 100,000 in the first semester before registration and RMB 50,000 in the second year.

Admission Policy

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis beginning in the fall semester. The LL.M. Admissions Committee reviews the whole application package carefully and selects qualified applicants who would best benefit from and contribute to the LL.M. Program. The Committee makes decisions on individual applications as quickly as possible.

In evaluating applications, the Committee takes into consideration factors including but not limited to the following:

1. Academic work, such as grades, class ranking, scholarly publications;
2. Letters of recommendation;
3. Professional and personal accomplishments;
4. Previous legal experience or careers in law teaching and research, government service, the judiciary, international governmental organizations, NGOs and private practice;
5. Proficiency in the English language.

To be considered for admission to the LL.M. Program, an applicant must have a first law degree (J.D., LL.B. or the equivalent) from a law school/department outside Mainland China or meet one of the following requirements:
1.  Enrollment in a law school/department outside Mainland China, or
2.  Qualification to practice law in a jurisdiction outside Mainland China.