Fordham Law Dean Michael M. Martin and Professor SUN Xiaoxia, Dean of Fudan Law School in Shanghai, recently signed a memorandum of understanding that will officially enable a student exchange between the two universities.
Beginning in the fall of 2015, two students from both Fordham and Fudan will be selected by their respective universities for eligibility to study at the partner institution for that academic year. Toni Jaeger-Fine, Assistant Dean for International and Non-J.D. Programs, will be undertaking the implementation of the agreement under the title of Director of Studies.
Fordham students in their second or third year of J.D. studies who are chosen to attend Fudan will begin the two-year LL.M. Program in Chinese Law beginning in September of their desired school year and will be expected to complete these studies by June of the following semester. The Chinese LL.M. requires a 10,000-word thesis to be written during the second year of study, and Fordham exchange students will be able to complete this thesis outside of China. Once these academic requirements are completed, Fudan will present their Fordham students with an LL.M. in Chinese Law. Fudan will also work to provide Fordham students with internship opportunities at international law firms in China.
Fudan students will also be required to spend a year studying at Fordham and will receive an LL.M. degree from Fordham upon completion.
As of May 27, the agreement will be effective for the next four years, with the first exchange taking place in the fall semester of 2015.