Columbia Law School offers a variety of courses in Chinese law. In addition to courses offered at the law school, students may take courses offered at other schools in the university. Chinese law courses offered at Columbia include:
A survey of contemporary Chinese legal attitudes and institutions in historical and comparative perspective. The course begins with a brief examination of certain key themes and practices in 's traditional legal order and an appraisal of 's early-twentieth-century effort to import a Western legal model. The major portion of the term is devoted to a study of formal and informal legal institutions and procedures in the criminal and civil processes of the People's Republic of and 's contemporary legal reform efforts. Topics will include an examination of the roles of the legal profession and the judiciary, the sources of law in contemporary , efforts to use law to address 's growing environmental problems, and the development of 's legal framework governing financial markets.
This colloquium is cross-listed in the department of East Asian Languages and Literatures. Students from outside the law school should register for this colloquium through History-East Asia as HSEA 8888 Graduate Colloquium in Chinese Legal History.
This colloquium will introduce students to current scholarship on Chinese law, society, and governance. We will examine both Chinese legal history and China's contemporary legal evolution, with particular attention to themes that link historical and contemporary developments. Topics to be examined will include the criminal justice system, the legal profession, the role of constitutional law, the roles of courts and other legal institutions, the development of corporate law, and the influence of rights consciousness and of social protest.
The course will introduce students from a common law background to international business and investment transactions with the People's Republic of China. Students will learn how one country, China, has moved from a state-planned economic system to a system where the market mechanism plays the primary role in regulating commercial activities, while allowing a continuing role for the prevalent political forces in the country. The likely future course of economic regulation in China will be studied at the end of the term, including corporate governance reforms, stock market regulation, antitrust and bankruptcy law developments. There are no prerequisites for this course. Knowledge of Chinese language is not required, although students with Chinese language or a familiarity with China are encouraged to participate in order ot enliven the debate.
This course is designed to familiarize students with corporate laws and policies in Mainland China and Taiwan, with an emphasis on the corporate governance structure of publicly-held companies. The course focuses on important governance issues such as controlling shareholders, board of directors, affiliated transactions, private securities litigation, domestic and cross-border takeovers. To this end, it also covers securities and investment regulations, such as listing requirements, mandatory disclosure and foreign investment restrictions in the Greater China area.
In the beginning of the class, an overview of the regulatory framework and market conditions in Mainland China and Taiwan will be conducted respectively. The other part of the class will be divided into the following units: I. Controlling Shareholders, Related-Party Transactions and "Tunneling"). II. Functions of the Board and the Role of Independent Directors. III. Private Litigation and Securities Regulation. IV. Merger and acquisition. Articles and other materials will be distributed to students beforehand.
By conducting comparative studies on the laws and their infrastructure across the Taiwan Strait, students may not only draw meaningful lessons on East Asian corporate governance, but also gain practical knowledge useful to lawyers specialized in Greater China business.
Professor: Lening Liu
Semester and Year: Not offered in 2009-2010
Course #: CHNS W 4022
Legal Chinese is offered by the East Asian Languages and Cultures Department when there is sufficient demand. Please check with EALAC for more information on this course and other Chinese language courses.
Professor: Benjamin L. Liebman
Semester and Year: Not offered 2009-10
Course #: L9243 Section: 1
2 Credits, Major Writing Credit
This seminar is designed for students wishing to write a significant research paper on a topic relating to Chinese law. The seminar will be split between the fall and spring semesters. In the fall, the meetings will examine the various forms that Chinese law scholarship takes today, will explore methodological questions involved in the study of Chinese law, and will focus on assisting students in designing a topic for original research. Fall sessions will also introduce the range of Chinese law materials available, including both print and electronic materials, and the best ways of utilizing such sources. Spring meetings will consist of presentations by students of their research.
Chinese language proficiency will be useful, but is not required. Students without a prior background in Chinese law will be expected to take L6271, Law and Legal Institutions in the spring semester. Students intending to obtain major writing credit under Professor Liebman's supervision should take this seminar.
China's entry into the WTO has brought renewed attention to the question of the role of law in 's interactions with the outside world. This seminar will begin with an examination of 's historical interactions with international law, and then will address a range of contemporary topics in which law and arguments about law affect 's interactions with other nations. Topics will include China's entry into the WTO; China's participation in international environmental lawmaking; human rights; Hong Kong, Tibet and Taiwan; private dispute resolution; intellectual property law; China's participation in international efforts to fight terrorism; labor migration and labor standards; and the role of other nations in China's legal reform efforts.
This is a two credit seminar. All students will receive minor writing credit. Major writing credit will be optional.
Professor: Madeleine H. Zelin
Semester and Year: Not offered in 2009-2010
Course #: L8341
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A seminar on the fundamentals of late imperial Chinese law and legal practice and its impact on the social and economic development of early modern . Most of the readings will be in English but students should be able to read Chinese in order to do the exercises designed to give them a hands on familiarity with legal materials. Open to graduate students in GSAS and the professional schools. Students in SIPA and LAW with an interest in are particularly encouraged to attend. Advanced Chinese language is desirable.
