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Centers & Programs

Nanjing, China

July 8 – July 28, 2012

Join us at Nanjing University in the historical former capital of China. Nanjing University is also historically, culturally, and geographically appealing by its proximity to Shanghai and Beijing.

At a Glance

Program Dates: July 8 ‐ July 28, 2012
Program Director: Professor Jennifer Mertus; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Host University: Nanjing University
Location: Nanjing, China
Housing: Jingli Hotel,7 West Beijing Rd. Nanjing, China
Tuition & Fees: $3,600 (max 4 units) [includes 3 day stay in Beijing with guided tour of the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, and Olympic Village; transportation to Beijing not included].
$3,200 (max 2 units) [includes 3 day stay in Beijing with guided tour of the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, and Olympic Village; transportation to Beijing not included].

Scholarships

Joseph Cha scholarship is available to Whittier Law School students who participate in the China Summer Abroad Program and also have an internship in China either before or after the program. Award amount may vary based on duration and location of internship. Minimum award is $500. Check back for more information and for applications.

Nanjing

Nanjing is located in Eastern China on the Yangtze River and approximately 200 miles west of Shanghai. Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiagsu Province and is a famous ancient capital of 10 dynasties. Nanjing is one of the most historical and cultural cities in the world. It was named Nanjing during the Ming dynasty, yet it is a modern and romantic city. Top attractions include the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, Purple Mountain, the Ming Xialing Mausoleum, the Qin Huai River, and the Memorial Hall to the victims in the Nanjing Massacre.

Program Details

The 2012 Nanjing summer program provides an opportunity for students to take classes in the fields of Chinese Law, Business Law, and Children’s Rights Law. All of the courses are seminars. Students also have the option to complete an extra unit of work through faculty supervised independent study, which will require work beyond the time span of the program. Students will gain cultural and legal perspective by the participation of Chinese students in class sessions, lectures by Chinese professors, a tour of historic and cultural sites in Beijing, and scheduled group excursions within Nanjing. The campus is equipped with elevators but may be inaccessible to individuals with disabilities.

Courses (all courses are seminars)

View Class Schedule

Chinese Law – 1 unit
Professor Timothy Webster

This course will explore the modern legal system in China and its origins. Since the reopening of law schools at the end of the Cultural Revolution in the late 1970’s, the Chinese legal system has developed rapidly. The government has established a Constitution, substantive law, functioning courts and administrative tribunals, law schools, and as of this past year, a unified bar exam of lawyers and judges. The number of lawyers grew from 5500 in 1981 to 114,000 in 1997. In order to understand the nature of this swiftly-evolving legal system, we will consider its origins, key actors and institutions, and selected substantive areas of law and policy.

China and International Law – 1 unit
Professor Timothy Webster

This class examines the attitudes, participation and influence of the People’s Republic of China on several international organizations. For most of its early history, the PRC looked suspiciously at international organizations and international law more generally. But in the Reform Era (1978 – present) China has become an active member of nearly all international organizations and legal regimes, and has even initiated its own multilateral organizations. This class first examines China’s previous reluctance to accept international law, and the historical context in which this suspicion arose. It then shifts to the reform era, where China has shed its hesitation, and actively sought to join a wide variety of international organizations. The class will devote significant attention to China’s participation and compliance with human rights regimes (UN bodies, International Criminal Court, International Labor Organizations and various treaties) and transactional regimes (World Trade Organization, Convention on the International Sale of Goods).

International Adoption Law – 1 unit
Professor Jennifer Mertus

This seminar will focus on modern legal issues pertaining to international adoption law with an emphasis on the effects of the Hague Convention on the international adoption process. Topics will include an overview of events and laws leading up to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention), an overview of the Hague Convention, a survey of the effect of the Hague Convention on adoption laws in foreign countries and the U.S., and an evaluation of the effectiveness of post-Hague Convention international adoption laws and procedures.

International Children’s Rights – 1 unit
Professor Jennifer Mertus

This course will explore the difficult and complex would of international children’s rights. Topics covered may include past and present legislation, child labor, children in the sex industry, children living on their own, children and punishment, children in armed conflict, and enforcement of children’s rights.

International White Collar Crime – 1 unit
Professor Terri Flynn

Topics covered in this course may include an overview of substantive crimes, such as international tax, money laundering, transnational organized crime, transnational corruption, and counter-terrorism financial enforcement; relevant procedural doctrines, such as extraterritorial jurisdiction and extradition and the role of international organizations, such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and INTERPOL, in enforcing the law.

Legal Aspects of Venture Capital and Private Equity – 1 unit

Professor Joseph Cha
A survey of the legal and business structures, transactions, and regulations related to limited partner investments in an international fund, the formation and operation of funds and the general partner, and structuring investments and management of portfolio companies, with a special emphasis on the development of China’s regulatory framework on offshore funds investing in China.

Housing [Required]

Program participants will stay in the Jingli Hotel, a modern hotel in the heart of Nanjing. It is within five (5) minutes walking distance to Nanjing University, where all classes are held. Students will have a choice between single and double occupancy rooms. Based on previous years, we estimate housing costs to be as follows:

SINGLE room: $70.00 per night including breakfast or $62 per night without breakfast.

DOUBLE room: $47 per person per night including breakfast or $36 per person per night without breakfast.

Internet access is included in the housing costs. Wired internet access is available in the guest rooms and wireless is available in the hotel lobby and restaurant area. Reservations at the Jingli will be made by the program director based on student housing applications and availability of rooms. No housing deposit or housing pre-payment is required at the time of the application; however, the hotel may require a deposit upon check-in. Students must pay for their hotel stay at the time of check-out. The hotel accepts Visa, MasterCard, and local currency (RMB) as payment. The hotel is equipped with elevators but may be inaccessible to individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the hotel does not have wheelchair accessible rooms.

Access to Computers & Internet Service

There are a limited number of computers available at the university. Some internet cafes may be available throughout the city and the price varies. It is strongly recommended that students take their own notebook/laptop computer, particularly for those courses that require papers or written assignments. Wired internet access is available in the Jingli Hotel, and wireless is available in the lobby of the hotel.

Travel

Fly to Shanghai, Hong Kong, or Beijing and take a connecting flight into Nanjing. China also has a fairly extensive railway system if you prefer to fly into another city and then take the train to Nanjing. Program participants are entirely responsible for arrangement and payment of all travel to and from the program site. For all American students, a valid American passport and a visa will be required. If you are not an American citizen or are ineligible for an American passport, you should consult with the nearest consulate for the country where the Summer Abroad Program will be held to obtain information about the necessary travel documents during your stay. All participants are also responsible for obtaining a travel visa to enter into China. Information regarding travel visas will be provided to students who are accepted into the program.

Grading

Students are required to attend all classes and participate actively in all classes. All students receive a course grade based on class participation and a required paper or exam administered at the end of each course. Seminar classes have limited enrollment and require regular class participation. For seminars, students may be required to make group or individual presentations, and typically the most significant component of the final grade is determined by a research paper of approximately 10-15 pages per unit of credit to be determined by the professor.

All Whittier Summer Abroad Courses are graded by using the same grading system used for the on-campus program. We do not offer courses on a Pass/No Pass basis except for units earned for Externships, Independent Study projects, and clinical or extern units. Professors report numerical grades based on a 4.0 point system as follows:

  • 3.6 – 4.0 (A)
  • 3.0 – 3.4 (B)
  • 2.5 – 2.9 (C )
  • 2.3 – 2.4(C-)
  • 1.8 – 2.2 (D)
  • 1.7 (F)

Reporting of Grades

Whittier Law School will report all grades once they are reported and finalized by the professors. Professors submit grades no later than six weeks after the end of the program. Non-Whittier students must inquire with their home school for policies regarding accepting courses and transferring credit for courses taken at Whittier law school’s summer programs. Whether credit will be accepted and how grades will be reported at the home school is entirely at the discretion of each student’s home school.

Grading Normalization

For more information regarding Whittier Law School’s grading normalization policies, please see Whittier Law School’s Policies and Procedures.

Visiting Students

The acceptance of any credit or grade for courses completed in a Whittier Summer Program by any law school other than Whittier Law School is subject to determination by the home school.

Admissions

The program is open to law students who have completed their first year of full or part time study by the time the program begins. Law graduates may be admitted as auditors. All students, except Whittier students, must submit a letter of good standing from the Dean or Registrar of their school.

The application deadline is March 1, 2012. Early applications are encouraged as program enrollment may be limited. Applications received after the March 1 deadline will be considered only if space is available.

You may request an application from the Law School or print the form from this site. For your convenience, you may submit your application(s) and the required fee(s) by mail, email, fax, or in person to:

Office of International Relations
Whittier Law School
3333 Harbor Boulevard
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Fax: (714) 444-0855
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Attn: Jennifer Maniscalco

A complete application consists of a completed application form, and a non-refundable application fee of $100, payable by Visa, MasterCard or personal check. (Checks should be made payable to Whittier Law School. The application fee must accompany the application at the time of submission.)

Participant File

  • A complete file consists of all of the following:
  1. Completed application form
  2. A letter of good standing from the Registrar of your law school (not required of Whittier Law School students). Students on Academic Probation are discouraged from applying, but will be considered on a case by case basis
  3. Copy of your passport [due to visa regulations, your passport must be valid for at least six (6) months after the start of the program]
  4. Signed Acceptance Letter
  5. Signed Participation Agreement
  6. Signed Tuition Agreement

Residency Requirements

It is unlikely that participation in foreign summer programs may be used to accelerate graduation. Whittier Law students interested in acceleration should consult with the Student Affairs office to review this issue in light of Standard 305, Interpretation 4. Non-Whittier students should consult with their home school.

Course Registration

You will be required to select your courses no later than the March 1 application deadline. For some programs, there are several course choices. In order for the Program Director to know whether all courses will be adequately subscribed, we require early registration. For your convenience, we have included on each program website course descriptions and a course plan or syllabus for each course to enable you to make your selections. This information is critical for planning the operation of our programs so that we are certain to offer courses that interest you. In the event that a course for which you have enrolled is undersubscribed, we will notify you promptly so that you can consider alternative choices. Courses with insufficient enrollment will be cancelled.

Add/Drop Period: March 2 – 9, 2012

We must make early commitments of financial resources to operate our summer programs, including faculty assignments. Therefore, we will offer a very limited opportunity to add or drop a class after the registration deadline. Please consider carefully your course selections. You may change your registration until March 9 without consequence. Any request to add or drop a class(es) after March 9 will require an additional administrative fee of $25 per course.

Deadlines & Payment Schedule

Application Deadline: March 1, 2012. Applications received after this date will be considered only if space is available.

First Tuition Deposit Deadline: March 15, 2012. $200 Deposit Due

Final Tuition Balance & Housing Payment Deadline: April 16, 2012. (If you are applying for financial aid, please advise us.)

Last day to withdraw with no tuition obligation: April 16, 2012.

Requests to withdraw must be made in writing, and submitted or postmarked on or before April 16, 2012. Notices of withdrawal received after April 16 will not be considered for tuition/fee relief. Any program participant who withdraws after April 16 will be responsible for the full price of tuition and/or other non-refundable fees.

Failure to Comply With Deadlines

PLEASE NOTE: Failure to comply with a deadline will not automatically withdraw you from a program(s) to which you have applied and been admitted. Your failure to meet a defined deadline may subject you to an additional administrative fee. To request exemption from a deadline and avoid a fee, please contact the Office of International Relations.

Financial Aid

Projected Expenses based on figures from 2011 (may vary depending upon when you purchase your ticket, the carrier, and other variables.)

Personal Expenses $ 200
Housing $ 1,052
Transportation $ 1,900
Tuition & Fees $ 3,600
Total $ 6,727

Please see Study Abroad – Financial Aid

Withdrawal Policy

Admitted students are automatically enrolled in the program(s) and counted for purposes of program plans upon submitting the signed acceptance letter. Should a student decide to withdraw from a program(s), s/he must submit in writing a “Letter of Declaration” setting forth an intention to withdraw no later than the close of business on April 16, 2012. For timely requests for withdrawal, all appropriate tuition and/or fees will be refunded within 10 business days of receipt of a letter of withdrawal. Failure to withdraw by April 16 will subject a student to tuition obligations as well as other fees the Law School has advanced on his or her behalf.

Please be advised that the Program Directors make early commitments to secure housing, purchase materials and pay for other program expenses based upon the number of participants determined shortly after the application deadline. Additionally, the Law School makes non-refundable financial commitments to faculty, program activities, and foreign hosts based upon the anticipated student tuition revenue at the time of registration. Therefore, it will not be possible for Whittier Law School to accept requests for refunds and/or relief of commitment to pay tuition or housing fees after the April 16, 2012 deadline to withdraw. A student who withdraws from a program after that date will be liable for all fees and tuition.

Please be advised that once you withdraw from a summer program, there will be a $50 fee to re-activate your application and reserve your space in the program in the event that you subsequently change your mind. We understand that a few of you may need to change your summer plans, and we are ready to assist you as best we can. We wish you all a wonderful and productive summer.

Notices of withdrawal received after April 16, 2012 will not be considered for refund or for tuition fee relief. Any program participant who withdraws after April 16, 2012 will be responsible for the full price of tuition and/or other non-refundable fees.

Withdrawal after the April 16 Deadline

Whittier Law School will not refund tuition or housing fees or grant relief from these financial obligations under any circumstance after the April 16 deadline, not even in the event that a student withdraws for reasons or misfortunes beyond his or her control, e.g., academic disqualification, financial aid disqualification, medical emergencies, or any other unforeseen circumstances, etc. Therefore, it is very important that each student weigh carefully his or her decision to participate in one of Whittier Law School’s Study Abroad Programs. Since no tuition or housing fee will be refunded under any circumstance after April 16, students are encouraged to consider Tuition Insurance. You may inquire with the Jennifer Maniscalco for additional information regarding Tuition Insurance.

Changes in Course Offerings or Other Significant Aspects of the Program by Whittier Law School

Whittier Law School reserves the right to cancel or alter the Study Abroad Programs. The programs, or specific courses advertised, are subject to cancellation if the enrollment is insufficient or if a State Department travel warning has been issued for the country or area where the program will take place. Any cancellation or material alteration of the program will be promptly communicated to all enrolled participants. In the event that Whittier Law School decides to cancel, significantly change the course offerings, or make other material changes to a program, students will be notified and given the opportunity to withdraw without financial penalty. All tuition and all fees will be promptly returned. In the event of program cancellation, the Associate Dean for International Relations will assist displaced registrants to find suitable alternative summer programs.

Students on Academic Notice

Students typically learn their GPA in June after all grades have been submitted and published. It is particularly important that you carefully weigh whether you should apply to a Summer Abroad program if there is an apparent risk of academic disqualification. After April 16, 2012, no one is excused from financial commitments, even when disqualified and even when student loans are cancelled.

Program Enrollees Who Subsequently Learn That They Are Academically Disqualified

Please be advised that if you fail to withdraw by the withdrawal deadline and subsequently learn that you are academically disqualified, we will hold you responsible for tuition fees and any other fees we cannot recover should you decide not to attend the summer abroad program. Therefore, we invite your participation. You will be welcome to take courses, participate in enrichment opportunities, and fully participate in all program activities.

Please note, however, that due to your disqualification you will be ineligible to earn law school units or credit for your participation in the courses you take abroad. If you have concerns about your plans to go abroad, please contact the Office of the Associate Dean for International Relations.

Program Cancellation by Whittier Law School

Whittier Law School reserves the right to cancel or alter the Study Abroad Programs. The programs are subject to cancellation if the enrollment is insufficient or if a State Department travel warning has been issued for the country or area where the program will take place. Any cancellation or material alteration of the program will be promptly communicated to all applicants. In the event that Whittier Law School cancels a Study Abroad Program or makes a material alteration to the academic curriculum of any program, we will promptly return all tuition and all fees. In the event of cancellation, the Associate Dean for International Relations will assist all displaced registrants to find suitable alternative summer programs.

Medical Insurance

Whittier Law School assumes no responsibility for medical care or costs, and students may be required to show proof of health insurance that covers medical expenses incurred abroad. You are advised to check with your medical insurance provider to see if your current medical insurance covers emergency medical care while overseas. If it does not, you are strongly encouraged to consider buying supplemental medical and hospital coverage for the period of your stay overseas. You might inquire with your medical provider, insurance agent or travel agent.

Additionally, students are strongly encouraged to obtain medical evacuation insurance. Such insurance may be obtained from various providers including, but not limited to, the following possible providers: Travel Assistance International, (800) 821.2828 , http://www.travelassistance.com; Global Travel Insurance, (800) 232.9145 , http://www.globaltravelinsurance.com; and Travel Insurance Services, (800) 937.1387 , http://www.travelinsure.com; The Gateway Plans http://www.gatewayplans.com; Wallach & Company Inc. http://www.wallach.com; BETiNS, (866) 552-8834 , http://www.betins.com.

Housing

Whittier Law School is usually able to secure housing accommodations for all program participants. Although most students choose to reside in the program housing, for some programs residing in program housing is not a requirement in order for you to participate in the academic program (program pages for specific requirements). However, Whittier Law School assumes no responsibility for housing you choose on your own. The program housing is also a location for occasional gatherings and posting notices and program information. If you do not live in the program housing, you will be responsible for obtaining all program information.

Administrative Staff

Professor Jennifer Mertus is responsible for planning of the program. She will also serve as the on-site director during the program. You can reach her at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 714-444-4141, ext. 243.

Calvin D. Peeler is the Associate Dean for International Relations, and oversees all Summer Abroad Programs. You can reach him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address); ext. 111.

For general inquiries, you may also contact Jennifer Maniscalco at (714) 444-4141 × 111; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Upcoming Events

CIPL Colloquium: “Judicial Perception of Patent Litigants”
February 22, 2012 4:00pm-5:30pm

Moot Court and Trial Ad: Student/Alumni Mixer
February 22, 2012 5:30pm-7:00am

WPILF Auction
February 25, 2012 6:00pm-11:00am

Recent News

Q&A with Jennifer Mertus
Family Law / Children's Rights

Celia Cho, Student Extern
Intellectual Property

Faculy Spotlight: Elizabeth Rosenblatt