As part of a tour of North American law schools, 18 representatives of the China Law Society visited York’s Osgoode Hall Law School Nov. 30.
The Beijing-based society, China’s most influential legal organization, has more than 50,000 members including judges, prosecutors and attorneys. The 18-member delegation is visiting several law schools in the US and Canada this fall to learn about enforcing administrative, civil and business laws as part of an effort to reform China’s legal system. The delegates are also seeking more exchange programs between China and Canada.
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| Above: Allan Hutchinson (front row, third from left), Osgoode associate dean, and Victoria Watkins, director of Osgoode Professional Development, flank delegation leader Hu Zhong, president of the Law Society of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and deputy director of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. To Watkins’ left is tour leader Gu Zhaomin, deputy director-general of the Overseas Liaison Department of China Law Society and director-general of the China Legal Exchange Centre. |
During the visit to Osgoode, the Chinese delegates received an overview of Canada’s civil law system from Professor Benjamin Geva. They also heard from Professor James Stribopoulos about Canada’s criminal law system and from Professor Richard Haigh about Canadian legal education and regulation of the legal profession in this country. In addition, Professor Gil Lan discussed “hot topics” in the legal world.