Hey, I got letters from both as well, send me an email at jb308@kent.ac.uk and we can discuss it further.

as a Beida (well we the Chinese students are most often use PKU short for Peking University) law school graduate who had studied there for 7 years, i'd say that beida law school and tsinghua law school are doubtlessly the best two law schools in PRC and i personally regarding beida law school as the stronger one of the two, because:

1. beida law school has a history of over 100 years while tsinghua law school is very young, started public recruiting only since 1999 (before that tsinghua law school has several year of "trial operation", only admitting students transferred from other departments of tsinghua). of beida law school graduates there was Wang Tieya, the former judge in international court, who also used to teach international law in beida law school (and some of the international law professor now teaching in beida law school used to study with Mr. Wang), and many other world famous scholars.

2. tsinghua has an obvious advantange over beida in that it has more fund, but i believe buildings and furnitures are not the most important factors in evaluating a university, or law school.

3. as to gerneral reputation of the two universities, tsinghua's strenth in in engineering while beida in art and science and law. they're the best two in china, hard to say which one is the best. tsinghua students are more practical, while beida students are more liberal.

hope you may find the above comments useful. i love beida; we all call it out spiritual home. hope you'll love it too.

Hi,
I have got an admission from PKU's LLM and decided to go there.
My biggest concern is a house. PKU website says "Students should afford their own accommodation. Peking University Law School will assist the students to arrange their accommodation."
I have a family (a wife and a baby). My wife is worried about security and daily management (she does not speak Chinese).
How does PKU assist the students to look for a room?

Hi, congratulations with your admission!

Hi population,
Thank you very much for your helpful advice. Your comments are always informative. Actually, I have got admission from both PKU and Qinghua. Your comment really influenced my decision.
By the way, do you speak Chinese? I know PKU LLM program includes Chinese language class, but I think it is not enough. How do LLM students learn Chinese?

Hey everyone, I was also accepted to both PKU and Tsinghua and as many of you, I'm currently debating on which program to attend.

Do you guys know what are the class schedules for both Universities? I've read about the compulsory classes and what not but I still don't understand wether we'll be in class all day long or however that is going to work.

Thanks a lot

Ani

N&A, Lic.Ani -- private responses sent

good luck to all applicants!

Hey, everybody.
Since you want to know about Chinese law school. Why don't you consult a Chinese legal student directly?

The law school ranking in our view is as follows:
1. People's university
2. Beida
3.中国政法大学China university of political science and law
4.Qinghua
5.Wuhan university
6.Jilin universtiy
7.华东政法大学East China university of political science and law
8.西南政法大学Southeast China university of political science and law
9.Fudan university
10.Xiamen university

Since 1949, there are only 9 universities have law schools. We call them 五院四系, namely five colleges(China university of political science and law, East China university of political science and law, Southeast university of political science and law, Central south university of political science and law and Northwest university of political science and law), four legal faculties (Beida, Jilin university, Wuhan university, Xiamen University).

The above 9 legal faculties are the most prestigious among legal academics in China. However, as the reform and open police goes on, some of them have fallen.

Some may doubt Qinghua's ranking. Frankly speaking, Qinghua law school is a just a new star. But Qinghua, together with Beida, are Oxbridge of China. Their big names
are unparallel in China. The common thought in China is that everything of Qinghua is best. Furthermore, Qinghua, due to its big name, has attracted some top legal scholars (Such as Wang Baoshu specialized in Corporate law and Zhang Mingkai specialized in Crime law) to join it. Many Qinghua alumni are high government officials, including current president Hu Jintao.

People's university is closely related with the government. It
is the baby of China communist party and like Qinghua, it is called the cradle of government officials.

中国政法大学(China university of political science and law) has its root in Beida law school. After 1949, at least part of Beida law school was divided off and established 中国政法大学. 中国政法大学 is very prestigious in the Judicial system and among legal practitioners. Many judges in the supreme court of China hold its PHD degree.

The above rankings are based on their reputation and history. But the reality is, Chinese student choose their law school based on not only law school reputation but also location. More often than not, location is a more important consideration.

People who wish to join the government or work in Beijing, would choose Beida, People's university, Qinghua, 中国政法大学，and UIBE(UIBE has the best international business law faculties in China, because it was established by the Business ministry of China).

People who plans to work in Shanghai, would prefer Fudan university and 华东政法大学East China university of political science and law. Because people in Shanghai discriminate universities outside Shanghai. Fudan is the proud of Shanghai, while alumni of 华东政法大学 dominate most courts and law firms in Shanghai. You can only beat graduates from the two law school only if you are from Beida or Qinghua.

Chinese law schools also offer JD programs for Chinese (not sure if it is available for foreign students). But unlike the case in US, the value of JD is outweighed by LLM. A LLM degree is indispensable in order to join big law firms and many government legal departments. Whoever, that is because a LLB is the precondition for Chinese to apply for a LLM. A foreign LLB + Chinese LLM just don't work in job fair.

China is increasingly globalized. But don't expect Beida or Qinghua legal professors speak good English. Suppose that a Chinese LLM student gets 100% information from a Beida
top professor, an English speaking student would get only 10% information. Because legal thoughts and terms are very hard to interpret, they may be reduced to street talks when expressed in English. Even he is the best Chinese professor, what he can give you is no more than a high school teacher's lesson.

Hi everyone, I'm in my final year of law in Australia and I'm keen to do a LLM in chinese law. In terms of admissions, does anyone know what they look for the most? Academic results or personal statements, etc. Here is Australia, our results are not point based but calculated in comparison to the rest of the class, so it is almost impossible for someone to get an average of 80.
I would eventually like to be work in China so right now, I am thinking that the Beida program is better as it provides a year of internship too.
If anyone could answer my questions in regards to the admission process, it will be much appreciated. Thanks in advance. H

Hi murph, where are you from?

Did you also get admissions from both Beida and Tsinghua? I\'ve got one from Tsinghua today. Thus, I am at a loss which school I should choose. My Chinese friends who went to Beida law school strongly recommend that I should choose Beida because Beida has much longer history (not LL.M. but law school history), and consequently much better alumni networks when it comes to law school. They argue even many of Tsinghua professors went to Beida.

Well...it\'s really tough decision. Any comments or suggestions?

I have personally studied at BeiDa and now working for CUPL on the LLM program.

Not much has been said in this post about CUPL apart from the below:

中国政法大学(China university of political science and law) has its root in Beida law school. After 1949, at least part of Beida law school was divided off and established 中国政法大学. 中国政法大学 is very prestigious in the Judicial system and among legal practitioners. Many judges in the supreme court of China hold its PHD degree.

Just couriered my LLM applications to both Tsinghua and Peking University yesterday.

Anyone else applying for the 2011 fall entering class?

What do they typically expect for entry into Beida university? Also do they provide scholarships?

I am strongly considering applying for this program. Actually to be more accurate I dearly want to apply to this program, however I would like some information about post-qualification. I am currently studying an LLB in my home country the UK. I will graduate May 2012 and I would very much like to do this afterwards. My goal is to work for an international firm in China. I would like to know if this is possible based on a UK LLB + an LLM in Chinese law. (I have basic Putonghua skills - both written and oral - having learned it during an exchange year at HKU and will continue to improve them at home.)
Will the fact that I am not qualified in my home jurisdiction be a barrier in this regard? If possible I would like to go LLB --> LLM-->Work in China and then possibly back to the UK (at which point I would have to qualify as a solicitor.)
I understand that if I qualify first I would be a foreign qualified lawyer with an LLM, and employment as a foreign lawyer in many jurisdictions under these circumstances would not be unusual, Im just wondering if in China I could do so with just an LLB and LLM but without being admitted in another jurisdiction.

Thanks,

Calum

CFox90
I would recommend getting a call to a jurisdiction before doing your LLM (especially in China). A call in China might not give you the best in mobility. You should get a call to the UK or to the NY bar. These are the two most important bars for international law firms (as financial contracts are based on either or).
tyc

Heading to Beida in Fall 2011. Anyone else coming with?