Peking University Law School
Peking University Law School stands as China's preeminent legal education institution, combining scholarly excellence in Chinese law with growing international engagement to train legal professionals for domestic and global practice. Founded as part of PKU in 1904, the law school has witnessed and influenced the development of modern Chinese legal systems through more than a century of scholarship and advocacy. The school occupies a central position in Chinese legal education, with faculty who draft legislation, advise government, and shape legal doctrine across all major fields. International programs have expanded significantly, with the school offering English-language courses, hosting visiting scholars, and collaborating with leading law schools worldwide. The school benefits from PKU's exceptional reputation and resources, including its historic Beijing campus, distinguished faculty across disciplines, and powerful alumni networks. With approximately 2,000 students across undergraduate, JM, LLM, and doctoral programs, PKU Law School prepares graduates for leadership in legal practice, government, academia, and business.
- Acceptance Rate
- 12.0%
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- Avg GPA
- 3.85
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Student Life & Environment
The Peking University campus is among the most beautiful in China, featuring traditional Chinese gardens, historic buildings, and Weiming Lake, which has inspired generations of students and poets. Law students share this spectacular setting with scholars from every discipline, creating intellectual community across fields. The law school building houses classrooms, faculty offices, and study spaces where students prepare for the demanding academic program. Libraries across campus provide resources ranging from ancient Chinese legal texts to the most current international legal scholarship. Students at Peking University Law School describe an experience defined by intellectual intensity, competitive pressure, and access to the commanding heights of Chinese legal education. Classmates include some of the brightest minds of their generation, students who achieved near-perfect gaokao scores or succeeded in equally demanding graduate admissions processes. Study groups form around exam preparation and research projects, with students pushing each other toward excellence while also providing crucial support. The pressure to succeed is significant, as academic performance at Peking University Law School shapes career opportunities for decades to come.
Location & Surroundings
Beijing's position as China's political and legal capital makes the city itself an essential part of legal education. Students attend proceedings at the Supreme People's Court, visit the National People's Congress, and observe how law functions in practice at the highest levels of Chinese governance. The city's law firms, many with offices near Peking University, provide internship opportunities that introduce students to professional practice. Campus life balances intense study with engagement in student organizations, athletic activities, and exploration of Beijing's cultural treasures. The food options, from campus cafeterias to surrounding restaurants, satisfy both local and international students. Beyond academics, students engage with the broader Peking University community through lectures, cultural events, and the particular atmosphere of China's most prestigious university. Many students become deeply involved in legal aid clinics that provide services to Beijing residents who cannot afford lawyers, developing practical skills while contributing to access to justice. International students, though a small minority, find welcoming communities and opportunities to build Chinese language skills and professional networks. The experience of studying law at the institution that has trained so many of China's legal leaders creates a sense of historical connection and future responsibility. Graduates carry the Peking University name throughout their careers, marked forever by their association with this remarkable institution.
Costs & Career Outcomes
Graduates of Peking University Law School enter career markets that actively recruit them for the most competitive positions in Chinese law. The elite law firms, both Chinese and international, concentrate their hiring efforts on Peking University and a handful of comparable institutions. Government positions in the judiciary, procuracy, and legal departments of ministries are filled substantially by PKU law graduates. Academic careers at law schools throughout China are essentially closed to those without degrees from top institutions, making the Peking University credential a necessary first step. Starting salaries at major law firms in Beijing and Shanghai have risen dramatically, with top graduates earning compensation comparable to starting associates at elite firms in New York or London. In-house legal positions at major Chinese corporations and multinational companies with China operations provide alternatives to law firm practice. Some graduates pursue careers in international organizations, where expertise in Chinese law is increasingly valuable. The path to partnership at top firms typically takes a decade, with many Peking University graduates reaching this milestone. For graduates interested in public service, careers as judges or prosecutors offer prestige if not comparable compensation. The Peking University Law School network provides ongoing support, with alumni readily assisting fellow graduates throughout their careers.
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