China Law Blog

Good post. Thanks.

I hate it, hate it, hate it, when "A++" or even "A+" is used. I am sounding like and old timer, here but there WAS a time in the world where school grading and for employee evals when an "A" really meant an "A" (as in "superior") and few students/schools/employees got them. A "B" meant in effect "good") and most students/schools/employees received that (as a good statistical curve indicated they should). A "C" truly meant satisfactory/you did your basic job.

Now, as this ranking list seems to say, and as Garrison Keilor so aptly notes, "everybody is above average."

Aaaaarrggghh!!

Chris --

I completely agree.

I blame Georgetown and Harvard as it seems to me those were the first schools where getting a 3.8 meant you were in the bottom half of the class.

Here's a question though, are there any law schools in China not on this list? Are these the schools that get a B?

Beida being Beida, I think you're right in your assessment, but I think a lot of that is based on history and the Beida grads who are in positions of power today. I think if you're looking toward the future and at the quality of the faculty, Renda (and their graduates) has the potential to unseat Beida in the next 10 years or so.

Dan,

Good question. I don't know.

If the posted list is all the law schools there are in China, though, there is simply no possible way that all of them can be A+'s, A's or B's. Some of that list I have to believe is a B, C or D, if those folks are being honest and introspective.

I can't even begin to start to write on school rankings in the US or elsewhere, as my blood starts to boil at the self mis-perception and/or outright corruption. I view school rankings across disciplines like mutual funds -- there are at least 500 of them, but each fund picks the variable that makes them or allows them to tell prospective clients that they are number one! I will leave it at that or I will be typing all night on this subject and will blow a gasket!

But as one anecdotal example, I have litigated against Harvard or Stanford law grads that were truly outstanding. And others who were buffoons.

I went to Beida AND Tsinghua and they are equally phenomenally good !

Okay, but that does not mean most of the others on the list also get/stay at an "A++"!

And your criteria that they are "phenomenally good" are _________? They may very well be, but I just need to know which (mutual fund - see above) criteria you are using!

b.cheng --

Thanks for checking in. I certainly get the sense Renda (People's University) is a fine school. Why do you see it as such an up and comer?

b.cheng --

Thanks for checking in. I certainly get the sense Renda (People's University) is a fine school. Why do you see it as such an up and comer?

Henrik Villumsen --

Thanks for checking in. Did you attend the law schools?

China Law Blog:
I myself is a Renda graduate. Renda law school is perceived as one of the best law schools in china. China doesnt have a reliable university ranking system so there is no way i can tell you why its one of the best but every year renda law school graduate program is one of the most competent to get in, judging by the entrance exam score. Many law professors in renda law school are key members when making new chinese laws and Xiao yang, the old head of Supreme People’s Procuratorate graduated from renda law school as well.
Sad thing is renda school officials are not good at selling renda, unline beida and tsinghua.

Well, JK did a good job summing up what I was going to say. For the top schools, I have no idea about Wuhan and so won't say anything, but I believe (I may be wrong) Qinghua came late to the law school game and while they are building up a top school, it lacks the history. Beida is tops at everything and law is no different. As JK mentioned, Renda has an excellent and influential faculty, comparable or better than even Beida. It seems that more and more of their students are going to top firms and also hold influential positions as judges and in the proscuretarate.

B.cheng.
I have no idea why foreigners like jilin university so much. Its a so so 2nd tier school that chinese high school students do pay attention to
When I was in college, Renda,beida,wuhan law school were perceived as the best. Qinghua law school is a latecomer and has less than 10 year hisitory

b. cheng/jk --

Thanks for contributing. I wish I could add more, but I know so little about most of the law schools. I must say though, that I was a bit surprised to see Wuhan score so highly. Not that I know anything much about the University there, it is just that I was surprised a school outside Shanghai/Beijing would do so well. But Wuhan U. does have a long and storied history, does it not?