Some U.S. law students and graduates, and students from other countries, are deciding to travel to China to earn a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree at Chinese law schools. LL.M. tuition in China is less expensive than LL.M. tuition at U.S. law schools, and though the LL.M. classes are taught in English, the students have a opportunity to have an international living experience and to learn to speak Mandarin Chinese. The students may have good job prospects in China both during school and after they graduate, and also may be more marketable when they return to the U.S. or go to work in another country. 

Tom Brennan (tbrennan@alm.com) published a story titled "The China Option" in The Asian Lawyer (22 April 2013). It is reproduced below.

Reminder -- Even before you apply to an LL.M. program, read the school's LL.M. Program Student Handbook. 

The Student Handbook will explain LL.M. program guidelines, the LL.M. curriculum, the grading scheme, and other information that will be useful to you after you enroll. Reading the Student Handbook will help you, as an LL.M. applicant and LL.M. student, develop reasonable expectations about the LL.M. program.  

The following link is to the New York University - NYU LL.M. program's Student Handbook.  

Click here for the NYU LL.M. Program Student Handbook for 2012 - 2013.

Check with the admissions office of LL.M. programs that interest you, and ask for a copy of their Student Handbook. If the LL.M. program that interests you does not have a Student Handbook, or if that program is unwilling to share their Student Handbook with you, then you might consider choosing a different U.S. law school for your LL.M. degree.

Though many law schools in India offer LL.M. degrees, Indian students make up one of the largest groups of students who come to the U.S. for an LL.M.

Click here for a link listing LL.M. programs offered in many different cities in India.

The Times of India also seems to have numerous articles, news items and other reports on LL.M. programs in India. Click here for a list of Times of India LL.M. news items.

Before you apply to an LL.M. program in the U.S., read the program's Student Handbook. The Student Handbook will explain LL.M. program guidelines, the LL.M. curriculum, the grading scheme, and other information that will be useful to you after you enroll. Reading the Student Handbook will help you, as an LL.M. applicant and LL.M. student, develop reasonable expectations about the LL.M. program. 

The following link is to the Harvard LL.M. program's Student Handbook for 2012 - 2013.

Click here for the Harvard LL.M. Program Student Handbook.

Check with the admissions office of LL.M. programs that interest you, and ask for a copy of their Student Handbook. If the LL.M. program that interests you does not have a Student Handbook, or if that program is unwilling to share their Student Handbook with you, then you might consider choosing a different U.S. law school for your LL.M. degree.

Each year the German- American Lawyers' Association (DAJV - Deutsch-Amerikanischen Juristen-Vereinigung) hosts a fair for U.S. law schools to send representatives to Cologne, Germany where they can meet students who want to apply to U.S. LL.M. programs. This is a great opportunity for prospective students to get first hand information about applying and getting accepted to a range of different LL.M. programs. The 2013 Fair will be held on 3 - 4 May.

There will be many U.S. LL.M. programs at the DAJV LL.M. Fair this year.

U.S. law schools scheduled to participate in the 2013 LL.M. Fair in Cologne, Germany include the following:

1. American University LL.M Program
2. Boston University School of Law LL.M Program
3. Brooklyn Law School LL.M Program
4. Cardozo School of Law LL.M Program
5. Duke Law School LL.M Program
6. Fordham Law School LL.M Program
7. Pepperdine School of Law LL.M Program
8. St. Marys University Law School LL.M Program
9. Suffolk University Law School LL.M Program
10. Syracuse University College of Law LL.M Program
11. Texas Tech LL.M Program
12. Tulane LL.M Program
13. University of California, Davis, School of Law LL.M Program
14. University of Connecticut School of Law LL.M Program
15. University of Houston Law Center LL.M Program
16. University of Maryland School of Law LL.M Program
17. University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law LL.M Program
18. Vanderbilt LL.M Program

The American Society of Comparative Law (ASCL) is hosting a conference for its Younger Comparativists Committee (YCC).  The conference is designed to highlight, develop, and promote the scholarship of new and younger comparativists, defined as scholars involved in comparative law for fewer than ten years. It is being held at Indiana University McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, Indiana (U.S.A.).

Over 80 younger scholars involved in comparative law for less than ten years as well as a select group of graduate students are presenting their research on a wide range of topics in comparative private and public law. The conference is titled New Voices in Comparative Law and is being held 18 - 19 April 2013.

The conference program can be found here.

The Australian government launched a set of Principles to Promote and Protect the Human Rights of International Students. On 4 October 2012, Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, Dr. Helen Szoke, noted the duty to protect international students, from all countries, who travel to Australia to study. The launch of the Principles occurred at the Australian International Education Conference held in Melbourne, Australia. A word or pdf version of the Principles and commentary thereon can be downloaded from the Commission’s website here.

Dr. Szoke noted that Australia benefits socially, culturally and economically from international students, and Australia owes a duty of care to ensure the health, safety and well-being of international students. Though most international students have great experiences, some challenges international students may face include economic insecurity, social isolation, language and cultural barriers, threats to their safety, and difficulties accessing needed services and information. They may also encounter discrimination, exploitation or harassment due to their race, colour, culture, religion, language or sex.

The human rights Principles, which flow in part from international human rights law treaties that bind Australia, help make international students more aware of their human rights, how Australian law protects these rights, and remedies available upon breach.  The Australian Human Rights Commission consulted with key stakeholders in arriving at the internationally agreed human rights  principles.

Following are the Principles to Promote and Protect the Human Rights of International Student:

Through the Fulbright program, the U.S. government funds overseas lawyers and others who want to come to the U.S. for short periods without earning a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree. One Fulbright plan is under a special "U.S.-ASEAN Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program".

That program recently announced its first award recipients, with seven people from ASEAN countries coming to the U.S.  The Visiting Scholars’ areas of research include climate change, food security, public health, U.S.-ASEAN political relations, monetary policy, and law.

U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN David L. Carden said: “The scholars’ projects are great representations of ongoing areas of focus in ASEAN, and we wish them well in their research at universities in the United States.” 

The first 7 Visiting Scholars in this program coming to the U.S. are:

On 9 April 2013, if you are in Tokyo, Japan, you can attend a special conference and learn about studying law in the U.S.! This conference will also travel to Seoul, Korea (12 April) & Jakarta, Indonesia (15 April).

The U.S. Embassy in Japan is hosting the "EducationUSA Law Conference", to be held at the American Center in Tokyo on 9 April.  EducationUSA主催：米国ロースクール説明会＆フェア 米国大使館、日米教育委員会（フルブライト・ジャパン）共催

Rosie Edmond, who is the EducationUSA Regional Educational Advising Coordinator (REAC) and is stationed at the EducationUSA Center at the US Embassy in Tokyo, has been instrumental in organizing this traveling Conference. Learn more about the Tokyo conference at Connect USA - Japan.

If you are interested in studying law in the U.S., and you are based anywhere in the East Asia / Pacific Region, may visit the EducationUSA Advising Center regional page and find contact information for the Center closest to you. If you are based in another region of the world, find a nearby EducationUSA Advising Center here.    Congratulations to EducationUSA!

The US Embassy Japan press release is quoted below:

Over 50 US law schools are set to participate in the International Legal Education Abroad Conference to occur at American University Washington College of Law.  The conference is scheduled for Monday & Tuesday, 8 & 9 April 2013.

Click here to register for the conference. There is no registration fee.

The National Jurist reports that a new program at Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University will permit students to seek bar admission in both the U.S. and Canada. They hope that this will create additional opportunities in an increased job market for graduates.  The National Jurist reports:

"The school’s North American Law Degree will allow students to graduate, within three years, with a J.D. designed to allow them to immediately seek licensure in Canada without further coursework, in addition to qualifying them for bar admission in the U.S."

The National Jurist further notes:  "The school’s dean, Douglas Sylvester, is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada and a graduate of both Canadian and U.S. schools of higher education."

Postgrad Solutions offers scholarships (Bursaries) for LL.M. study in the U.S. or elsewhere around the globe.  Each scholarship is worth £500 (British pounds).

Students are eligible for the scholarship if they begin their LL.M. study at any point in 2013. Though the award recipients will not be announced until Autumn 2013, students who apply before the 18 August 2013 deadline are eligible, even if they began their LL.M. study as early as January 2013.

For more information about this bursary, please check the website of LLM Study at this link.

The picture of the Pound sign above appeared on the LLM Study website.