01 Jun 2017
Eleven University of Nebraska College of Law students recently returned from a study abroad trip at Xi’an Jiaotong University in Xi’an, China. Professor Harvey Perlman coordinated the trip with support from Hanban, the Chinese agency that sponsors Confucius Institutes around the world including at UNL.
The for-credit course occurred during the summer pre-session so that students were able to participate in the trip and return to the United States for other summer work experiences.
“…the timing was perfect because it gave me something to do that was far away that would take my mind off thinking about finals and potential grades,” said Dylan Bakken, Nebraska Law 2L. “And it allowed me to come back and start work right away.”
The course in Comparative Chinese Law included daily lecturers from Xi’an Jiaotong law professors and Professor Perlman. Students also attended lectures on Chinese economics and culture. They were given a special tour of the Intermediate People’s Court. Judges from the Court led the tour and spent time with the students discussing the differences in Chinese and American legal processes.
In Beijing they visited the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission which provides arbitration services similar to the American Arbitration Association.
“This trip was a great extension of our International Perspectives course and gave me the benefit of seeing a civil code jurisdiction up close,” said Bakken. “This experience has widened my view of the pros and cons to legal systems outside the U.S.”