The East Asian Legal Studies Center offers programs and opportunities each year to University of Wisconsin Law School 1L, 2L, and/or 3L students who are currently enrolled at the time of the program. This page lists the offerings; visit the links for detailed information. (The Center is in Room 4312, Law School-- take Atrium elevator by back entrance or stairs to the 4th floor.)
Job Opportunities (These are eligible for work-study.)
Writing Tutors (JD students help international masters students at the Law School with the English construction of their research papers); Discussion Leaders (JD students currently taking a Law School class or who have taken a Law School class that now has three or more MLI students act as a discussion leader for bi-weekly meetings to review class lectures and prepare for upcoming classes).
Programs, Internships, and Research Travel Grants
Law Internship in Vietnam (spring, summer, fall)
This internship is for 1L and 2L students in Vietnam at an international law firm in the summer. If you are interested, please read about the application process.
Summer Internship in Bangkok, Thailand (July through mid-August)
This internship
is for 1L and 2L students and is part of the Law School's cooperative agreement
with Thammasat University Faculty of Law, Bangkok, Thailand. UW Law School
students are given placements in international law firms in Bangkok. A
grant of $1,400 to defray the cost of travel is provided by the Center. The application process for 2008 has closed. Click on the "internship" link for details and application directions.
Short Programs:
The Center offers programs for currently enrolled UW Law students during the intersession (early January) and during May. These programs are announced each year in the Law School's Newsletter, with directions on how to apply. The programs are taught by UW law professors and are held at a university abroad. Recent programs have been held in China (Xiamen; Beijing; Shanghai) and Thailand (Bangkok) and have been taught by Professors John Ohnesorge, Ralph Cagle, Susan Steingass, Gordon Smith, and Anuj Desai. In May 2007, Professor Stephanie Tai taught a program in "Water Law and Governance" at Hanoi Law University.
Currently, we are accepting applications for an intersession (January 2009) program at Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand, on the topic of Cross-Cultural Negotiations.
Research Travel Grant
The East Asian Legal Studies Center awards travel allowances to J.D. students
who want to do legal research involving countries of
FOR 2L and 3L STUDENTS: Intersession 2009 openings; proposal deadline: November 1, 2008
FOR 1L and 2L STUDENTS: Summer 2009; proposal deadline March 14, 2009.
Interested students should see the Program Components and Required Application Materials.
- Read about 2004 grant recipient John Bradley's research in
China. - 2002 grant recipient Brian T. Larson published an article and won an award in part as a result of his research travel grant.
- Read about 2005 grant recipient KaShia Moua's experience:
Who knew that after a night of dining with a delegation of Philippine judges at Professor Irish's home that I would end up traveling through the Philippines conducting field research on the growing Mail Order Bride phenomenon less than two months later? The process of how my academic interest quickly and smoothly transformed into an academic reality is illustrative of the Center's commitment to helping students turn law into action.
I met briefly with Ms. Katcher in the fall of 2005 about an interest in studying abroad and then followed up with Professor Irish in the spring to share a more cohesive vision. My interest was in examining the Mail Order Bride Industry from several angles. I wanted to explore the legal ramifications of essentially "buying" a bride, the cultural impacts of established western men marrying women from impoverished nations, and the social implications on the Asian American community that works hard to defy the stereotypes of Asian women that the Mail Order Bride Industry exaggerates.
I had never been to the Philippines and only had a couple names and e-mail addresses which caused me to have serious concerns about how productive my short visit would be. My study in the Philippines was from July 30 – August 8, 2006. I was pleased to discover that despite minimal e-mail correspondence with contacts prior to my arrival; my two weeks in the Philippines were packed with interviews and visits to half-way shelters for trafficked women and girls.
Each morning I went to the Asia Foundation - which acted as my headquarters – and from there, I was accompanied to several government agencies and non-profit organizations to conduct in-depth interviews. My main contact prior to my arrival was Dr. George Carmona and my main contact upon my arrival was Carolyn Mercado of the Asia Foundation. During my two week stay, I traveled through most of Manila and to the small island of Boracay and conducted approximately fifteen interviews.
Overall, my visit was incredibly productive and successful. I was amazed at the warmth and generosity that awaited me in Manila. I truly feel my study in the Philippines was made possible because of the relationship that Professor Irish and the Center of East Asian Legal Studies had formed with the Philippine delegation that visited Madison. I appreciate the Center's support and willingness to sponsor my project. I would strongly encourage other students to take advantage of this type of unique opportunity where they can independently pursue legal interests with the support and guidance of UW Law faculty and staff.
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If you have questions about these programs, please contact the Center's Associate Director at skatcher@wisc.edu.