Scholars debated reform and development of the national legal education system at the fifth annual Legal League of China Forum on July 12 in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province. Participants from China University of Political Science and Law, Southwest University of Political Science and Law and Northwest University of Politics and Law stressed the role of ethics in education during their discussion.

“During the process of fully promoting the rule of law in China, legal education should pay more attention to the cultivation of legal faith and ethics. The connection between theory and practice in teaching should be strengthened, and a synchronous, practical plan related to teaching and practice should be implemented to cultivate legal talents adapted to social demands,” said Huang Jin, president of China University of Political Science and Law.

Currently, the main obstacle to legal education in China is the lack of coordination between its quality and popularization. Yang Canming, president of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, said there are three main deficiencies in the cultivation of legal talents in China.

Firstly, there is a lack of professional legal talent in China, particularly in central and western regions, while there is a surplus of graduates majoring in legal sciences. Secondly, there is a shortage of foreign-oriented legal talents. Thirdly, law students lack practical experience partly because the current legal education system focuses more on theory rather than cultivating practical ability.

Du Zhichun, secretary of the Party committee at East China University of Political Science and Law, noted imbalance in university governance structure is a challenge facing many Chinese universities. Addressing this problem requires scientific decision making, democratic participation and supervision mechanisms, he said. Jia Yu, president of Northwest University of Politics and Law, claimed that the modern university system must realize efficient and harmonious operation through corporate governance.

Speaking about the future development of legal education, Liang Yamin, president of Gansu Institute of Political Science and Law, said that the construction of a talent-cultivating mechanism looms is the necessary next step.

The Chinese version appeared in Chinese Social Sciences Today, No. 620, July 14, 2014.

The Chinese link: http://www.cssn.cn/hy/hy_zyhy/201407/t20140716_1256927.shtml

　　Translated by Chen Meina

　　Revised by Tom Fearon