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The Maryland Carey Law-CUFE in Beijing, China - Courses Offered

The Maryland Carey Law-CUFE Law Fall Semester Cooperative Program in Beijing, China

Courses Traditionally Offered

Courses are attended by both CUFE degree students and students participating in the Maryland Carey Law-CUFE Law Cooperative Program (courses subject to change based on student demand and professor availability).

Methodology Courses (Offered in Advance of CUFE’s Business Law Courses)

1. Introduction to the Chinese Legal System (Mandatory—3 credits)

Students who have successfully completed a survey course on Chinese Law may claim exemption from attendance.
This seminar style class explores the fundamental structure and operation of the Chinese legal system, offering a critical perspective on the development of law in China and providing students with the basic training necessary to later work with Chinese law on a deeper and practical level. The course covers the historical development of the Chinese legal system, the relevant institutions responsible for the formation and application of law in China (and associated legislative and judicial processes), and issues of Chinese law and society. Specific subjects covered include, among others, constitutional law, administrative law, the legal profession, family law, counter-corruption strategies, and criminal procedure.

2. Comparative Law (Mandatory—2 Credits)

Students who have successfully completed a course on Comparative Law may claim exemption from attendance.
This course presents an examination of various legal traditions (e.g., common law, civil law, socialist law and religious law) through the identification of similarities and differences among them. Emphasis is placed on the different analytical methodologies used in the application of law in various legal systems, and on training students to employ general and specific theoretical models of comparison. Students not only gain by enhanced knowledge of foreign legal systems, but develop a better understanding of their own legal culture.

Business and Commercial Law Courses

3. Foreign Direct Investment in China (3 Credits)

This course explores the unique challenges faced by foreign investors entering the Chinese market. The course covers topics such as investment vehicles available to foreign businesses in China, protection of intellectual property, and mergers and acquisitions. Emphasis is placed on the myriad of issues that must be addressed to successfully operate in China, and the uniqueness of operating in a mixed state-owned and private economy.

4. Chinese and International Arbitration (3 Credits)

This course explores the development of arbitration domestically in China as well as Chinese treatment of international arbitration proceedings and awards. Students will explore China’s Arbitration Law and the general procedural context for private arbitration in China, including the role that the various arbitration forums play in China’s legal landscape. The course will also deal with the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in the Chinese legal system.

5. Law of Credit and Guarantee (U.S. and China) (3 Credits)

Security for debt obligations and contract performance remain a cornerstone of any commercial transaction, domestic or international. Through a comparison of U.S. and Chinese Law, this course surveys the law of third-party performance guarantees (surety bonds), security interests, statutory liens, and letters of credit. Emphasis is placed on training students how to perfect creditor interests in, and dealing with competing creditor claims to, pledged assets. Students will also be introduced to China’s efforts to increase access to credit for small and medium enterprises and the broader Chinese citizenry.

6. Comparative Government Procurement Law (3 Credits)

This course employs analysis of both Chinese and foreign case adjudications to demonstrate the similar legislative framework, but very different operating environments, for public contracting in China and other countries. Students not only learn the basics of government procurement law, but explore very different administrative systems (with emphasis on comparing the U.S. and China regulatory models). The course also presents a unique opportunity for students to compare the legal reasoning and writing style of Chinese, European and U.S. judges.

7. Sino-Global Business Law Trial Competition (3 Credits)

CUFE’s Business Law Trial Competition offers both Chinese and non-Chinese students the opportunity to team up as lawyers to dispute substantive issues of international trade and/or international investment law before a mock panel of judges. Applying Chinese civil procedure law, students research, brief and debate challenging choice of law and choice of forum issues. Diverse student teams (a mix of students from civil and common law countries) offer the opportunity to witness different methods of pleading, argument and legal analysis. Prior to the trial competition, students receive training in comparative civil procedure law, focused primarily on the core differences between civil proceedings in common law versus civil law systems.

8. Collaborative Research (2 Credits)

CUFE offers students an unparalleled opportunity to purse independent research in collaboration with a Chinese student partner, under the guidance of CUFE Faculty. Students can choose to explore a subject of Chinese law from a variety of perspectives, including comparisons with the law of their home country. This course is mandatory for any students participating in the Maryland Carey Law-CUFE Law Cooperative Program.

9. Select Topics in International Commercial Law (1 Credit)

Each year, the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law designates one of its Professors to teach a short-course on an important subject of international or comparative business or commercial law. Topics may include secured transactions, international business transactions, international financing, comparative bankruptcy and insolvency law, company law, tax law, and related subjects.

Language Courses (subject to extra charge)

10. Basic Mandarin Chinese (3 Credits)

This course introduces the fundamental grammar and tonal rules of China’s national language. Students learn both pinyin (romanization) as well as Chinese characters. Emphasis is placed on quickly getting students familiar with basic phrases so they can better engage with their Chinese hosts.

11. Legal and Professional Chinese (2 Credits)

For those who have already achieved a high level of Mandarin Chinese proficiency, CUFE offers the unique opportunity for students to embark on mastery of Chinese legal terms and Chinese legal drafting.

Students fluent in Mandarin Chinese may receive special permission to attend regular law courses offered in the fall semester at CUFE Law. Please contact the Program Director for details.

Law School Credits. All U.S. law students (whether regular Maryland students or students visiting at Maryland Carey Law) will receive full law school credit from Maryland Law for successful participation in each course. Each year Maryland Law may accept a small number of select students from other U.S. law schools to participate in the Program. Students from other U.S. law schools should consult with their home institutions for approval to visit Maryland Law for this purpose. The home institutions should be informed that the Program has received provisional approval from the ABA as a formal “Cooperative Program” under Section II of ABA Standard 307. For more information, your home institution should contact Professor Michael P. Van Alstine,

Non-U.S. law students will receive an official transcript from The Law School of The Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing.

Certificate of Completion. Students who successfully complete 11 non-language credits during the Beijing Semester program also will receive a Certificate in Comparative Business Law from the Law School of the Central University of Finance and Economics.

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