Center for Chinese Legal Studies | Columbia Law School

Public Interest Law in China

The Center for Chinese Legal Studies manages several programs that support public interest law in China.

These programs include:

• Lectures and other events;
• The Haas Fellowship to support a recent graduate in a public interest internship;
• The Oldham Fellowship to support students who wish to travel to China to do public interest or government work, or to conduct research;
• The Greater China Public Interest Fellowship provides internships in public interest law in greater China for Columbia J.D. or LL. M. graduates;

• The Rural Land Rights in China Fellowship at the Rural Development Institute to support a recent Columbia Law School Graduate in a two-year position;

• Hosting public interest fellows from China in conjunction with PILnet: The Global Network for Public Interest Law, formerly the Public Interest Law Institute (PILI).

In addition, Benjamin L. Liebman, the director of the Center for Chinese Legal Studies, sits on the board of the PILnet and advises on their China efforts, including effecting the projects of former PILnet fellows once they return to China. The center also assists in public interest initiatives of Columbia Law School faculty, such as the development of legal clinics. Students wishing to explore public interest law, including government work, in China should contact the Center for Chinese Legal Studies or Social Justice Initiatives.