As the world economy grows to include more Asian participation,
there is an ever greater need in the United States for
better understanding of Asia. The Georgetown University
Law Center (Law Center) continues to demonstrate its
commitment to the East and Southeast Asian region through
its commitment to the Asian Law and Policy Studies (ALPS)
program. Through this unique forum the Law Center has
made a distinct contribution to the development of U.S.
relations with Asian countries. In turn, ALPS has made
the Law Center a major forum for international symposia
and conferences on law and policy issues in Transpacific
relations.
- To develop Asian-focused legal courses, programs
and symposia;
- To foster dialogue on the harmonization of law
and policy in the Asia-Pacific region and provide
a framework for expanded education, exchanges, and
international dialogue about Asian law; and
- To integrate Asian legal materials into non-specialized
courses by increasing the number of visiting faculty
and fellows at the Law Center from Asia.
In previous years, Asian law courses have included U.S.-Japan
Trade Issues, Chinese Law, East-West Negotiations, the
Changing Pattern of International Relations in Asia,
and Korean Law. Sample courses that have been available
and/or are currently available include:
Since June, 2000, the Law Center—acting on the
request of the People’s Republic of China’s
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation—has
provided four special, short intensive training course
for selected government officials. Led by Professors
John Jackson and James Feinerman of the
Law Center, this two-week program prepares China to
meet the demands of future membership in the World Trade
Organization.
In October 2002, the Law Center hosted a three-day conference
examining China’s status since accession to the
World Trade Organization (WTO). Twenty experts from
the U.S. and China represented the private, educational
and public sectors of the legal community. Papers were
presented on topics that included “The Impact
of the WTO on the Development of the Rule of Law”
and “On the ‘One Country, Four Seats’
in WTO Regime.”
Taking advantage of its location in Washington,
D.C., ALPS has established a forum for structured dialogue
concerning law and policy harmonization in the Pacific
region. The forum's agenda has included issues such
as the legal framework for Pacific Trade, the proposed
APEC Investment Code and harmonization of trade and
competition laws in the Pacific Region.
ALPS welcomes guest speakers to the Law Center during
the academic year through our “Tea with the Ambassadors”
program. Recent lectures have been given by: the Ambassadors
of Cambodia, The People’s Republic of China, and
the Republic of Korea; the Japanese Minister of Public
Affairs; and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative.
The James M. Morita Chair in Asian Legal Studies
The James M. Morita Chair represents the Law Center's
commitment to expand its role as the pre-eminent U.S.
Legal institution in Asian legal studies. This Chair
was awarded to Professor James Feinerman on April 25,
1997.
Visiting Professors, Scholars and Researchers
from Asia
The Law Center welcomes and encourages foreign professors
and scholars to apply or inquire about our program.
Former Visitors were supported by the Marks & Murase
Visiting Professorship.
Publications
Oceana Publications, the well-known American publisher
for the international legal market, has published two
volumes based on ALPS conferences. In addition, non-ALPS
conferences have provided material for symposium issues
of Georgetown's student-edited international law journal,
Georgetown Journal of International Law.
Through the generous donations and continuing commitment
of alumni, friends, and parents the Georgetown University
Law Center has expanded and will continue to expand
its admissions, scholarships, programs, symposiums,
research, and professors and scholars in Asian Legal
Studies. With its expanding program in Asian Law and
Policy, the Law Center can provide an education that
can prepare future lawyers for an expanded role in the
international legal and business world well into the
next century.
Previous programs have been funded by generous grants
from the Ford Foundation, the Japan Foundation's Center
for Global Partnership, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund,
the Asia Foundation, and the Korea Foundation.
ALPS invites the support of alumni and other friends
of the Law Center and the University with interests
in Asia to assist in the development of programs and
help expand contacts for fundraising activities among
private sector, non-profit foundations, and selected
international organizations with specific regional interests.
