Meet Julita! Julita graduated from PKU Shenzhen’s School of Transnational Law in 2021 with an LLM degree and is currently working for a leading law firm in Warsaw, Poland in the arbitration department and China Desk. From her experience studying at one of China’s top universities, Julita discovered new perspectives and insights into the legal field.
For students with a legal background, the LLM program at PKU School of Transnational Law is one of the best ways to advance both your law career and understanding of China. As Julita’s experience studying law at PKU Shenzhen shows, this decision can truly be life-changing.
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Julita!
How did you first get interested in studying in China?
I studied my Master of Law at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, and during my studies, I did two student exchanges. The first one was at the University of Granada in Spain, and the second one was at the Beijing Institute of Technology in Beijing, China. I love studying languages and traveling all around the world.
After I landed in China, everything interested me, especially the mix of traditional and modern culture in China. I also found Chinese people very kind and friendly to foreigners. The only thing that was very difficult for me, in the beginning, was the language barrier. Finally, it pushed me to study Chinese more. I found it very helpful, and if I wasn’t in China, studying Chinese probably wouldn’t be so fluent.
Why did you choose to go back to China to study law?
I had many goals. After my first experience in China, I wanted to come back and improve my Chinese. I also saw Peking University School of Transnational Law as a great opportunity to specialize in the area of law which drew my interest, which was treaty arbitration. I also found that the teachers invited to Peking University were very well-known legal authorities. They come from prestigious universities in the United States, which was something very unique to me. I also wanted to have a comparison of legal cultures between China, the US, and Poland. I also wanted to expand my networking. My current colleagues are lawyers, so it’s good to have friends in your profession worldwide. I also wanted to get a degree from a high-ranking university that is known worldwide. I thought it would help me to find a job easily from anywhere in the world.
What interested you about studying law at PKU School of Transnational Law?
In general, I think that law studies are way more than just studying legal acts. Aside from the subjects like civil law and penal law, there is a wide range of optional subjects including economics, philosophy, even politics, and languages. This complexity can prepare students to think out of the box, resolve problems, and show that in many cases there is no simple or obvious answer. It develops personal qualities, not only able to be a successful lawyer, but also it helps career development for businesspeople. That was my motivation.
Can you share some of your experiences at PKU STL?
What I liked about living in Shenzhen was the international environment. In the classroom, we had connections with Chinese students, American teachers, and many foreign students from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia…there were people from everywhere! I found this was a unique experience because even questions they posed during the class gave me a different approach and made me think in ways I didn’t before. That was something I really appreciated.
The program is the School of Transnational Law–not only Chinese law, but international. It really helped me to think outside of the box. Right now, if we have Chinese clients, it gives me a better approach to them. We can start the conversation by remembering times in China. My current job is developing a China Desk, and I am a part of it. Right now as China is expanding a lot, it’s good to have some experience with China and Chinese, and if you have lived there, it’s very helpful wherever you live after that.
What type of student would do well in PKU’s LLM program?
First of all, I think ambitious students who like to specialize in any area of law. PKU has a very wide range of subjects which you can choose from. So, I focused more on arbitration and international business transactions, and other friends of mine focused more on intellectual property or environmental protection law. We got the same diploma but our specialties are very diverse.
I think that you can get from PKU as much as you give. The more precise you are about what you want to get from it, the better you can prepare for the classes, and take advantage of the great teachers and great professors who are invited to provide you with knowledge.
Study at Peking University School of Transnational Law
The LLM Program in Transnational Law at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School might just be perfect for you. Combining transnational law and practice, Chinese and Western law, a dynamic Chinese city and China’s premier university, an LLM degree from PKU Shenzhen is an excellent investment.
Opportunities for foreign lawyers in China are only expanding, and studying law at China’s top university can propel your career forward in China and the world.
Learn more about the prestigious LLM Program in Transnational Law at Peking University Shenzhen admissions process for 2022.
Read the Admissions Guide to learn about student life and scholarships, or start applying now:
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