Chicago-Kent partners with programs in Beijing and Shanghai; details on each are listed below:
Beijing, China-CUPL
In partnership with the Chinese University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), we offer four law courses as part of an Overseas Training Program. Students start the program in Beijing, and if they successfully complete all four courses and are approved by our faculty for admission to the LL.M. Program in U.S., International & Transnational Law, they can complete the LL.M. degree in Chicago by December of the same year.
Students have the option of remaining in Chicago for a third semester at reduced tuition cost.
All students are required to complete an Intensive English Preparation Course offered by CUPL prior to the start of the Overseas Training Program, and any students who are subsequently admitted to the LL.M. program will be required to attend a Legal English course offered at Chicago-Kent College of Law prior to the start of law classes in the Fall semester. Waivers from the Legal English class will be done on a case-by-case basis and will require submission of acceptable TOEFL (600/250/100) or IELTS (7.0) scores.
Courses offered in Beijing may include Introduction to the American Legal System, Introduction to Legal Research and Writing, International Business Transactions, Overview of Intellectual Property Law, Business Organizations, Comparative Law, and International Capital Markets. All courses are taught in English and are offered in a two-week intensive format for 3-4 hours per day for 10 days.
Applicants for the Overseas Training Program (OTP) must be CUPL law students in their final year of undergraduate study, or CUPL graduate law students, and should be proficient in English. Admission to the Chicago semester depends on a student's academic performance and English language skills. All applicants to Chicago-Kent's LL.M. program are required to submit an application form including a personal essay, law school transcripts, and two references.
Shanghai, China
In partnership with the Shanghai Bar Association (SBA) and East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL), Chicago-Kent College of Law offers four law courses as part of an Overseas Training Program for Chinese lawyers. Students start the program in Shanghai, and if they successfully complete all four courses and are approved by our faculty for admission to the LL.M. Program in U.S., International & Transnational Law, they can complete the LL.M. degree in Chicago. Students have the option of remaining in Chicago for a third semester of study at reduced tuition cost.
Admission to the Overseas Training Program requires a first degree in law from a Chinese law school or a license to practice law in the home jurisdiction, and evidence of some proficiency in English, however students are not required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score in order to start the program in Shanghai. The SBA will coordinate registration for the Overseas Training Program.
All students are required to complete an Intensive English Preparation Course offered by ECUPL prior to the start of the Overseas Training Program, and any students who are subsequently admitted to the LL.M. program will be required to attend a Legal English course offered at Chicago-Kent College of Law prior to the start of law classes in the Fall semester. Waivers from the Legal English class will be done on a case-by-case basis and will require submission of acceptable TOEFL (600/250/100) or IELTS (7.0) scores.
Courses offered as part of the Overseas Training Program may include Introduction to the American Legal System, Introduction to Legal Research and Writing, International Business Transactions, Overview of Intellectual Property Law, Business Organizations, Comparative Law and International Capital Markets.
Students attending the Overseas Training Program will be graded by Chicago-Kent faculty on a 4.0 scale, and will be required to earn a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.7, calculated after the third course is completed, in order to be eligible for admission to the LL.M. program. All students who complete the Overseas Training Program will receive a Certificate of Completion, even if they are not admitted to the LL.M program.