Posted on August 1, 2014 by James Bruen
The China Project continues to provide opportunities for Fellows of the College to work on pro bono environmental law projects sponsored by non-governmental organizations and law faculties in China. Attorneys who have participated in the projects have described them as “peak experiences” and “once-in-a-career” opportunities. In the near term, the China Project has advisory and teaching projects underway. Moreover, the Project will likely offer the opportunity for one or more Fellows to train Chinese environmental lawyers in Beijing in September. Further projects are on the drawing board. Where Fellows travel to China, airfare, hotel, meals, transportation and visa expenses customarily have been reimbursed by the Chinese sponsor. Please email jbruen@fbm.com now if you would like further details of the September opportunity.
The China Project has already had a substantial impact on Chinese environmental lawyers and Chinese environmental law. Some activities have involved, or will involve, travel to Beijing, Shanghai or other destinations in China. Others can be completed from a Fellow’s home or office in the United States. During the first half of this year, as participants in the China Project:
• ACOEL Fellows have consulted in person with representatives of the National People’s Congress, China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection, and the NRDC Beijing office about improving the enforcement of the country’s basic environmental laws. China’s participants in these consultations reported that they were “very productive” and that they came at a “critical moment” in the development of the National People Congress’s deliberations. The consultations were considered as among the important factors which led to amendments of the laws to enhance Chinese enforcement provisions. The amendments were later reported in the United States on National Public Radio.
• ACOEL Fellows are now preparing a comprehensive memorandum for training Chinese lawyers and scholars about the United States’ environmental impact assessment system.
• ACOEL Fellows are scheduled to train Chinese lawyers on various aspects of a broad range of United States’ environmental laws.
All of the consultations, training and analyses undertaken by Fellows during the China Project will be delivered in, or translated from, English. There is no foreign language requirement and no additional training required. The only special requirement arises where the Fellow will be traveling to China. He or she will need a Chinese visa – which should be easily obtained (even on very short notice in an emergency) by any Fellow in the College. If you need assistance on how to obtain a visa to visit China, contact me.
The China Project is a function of the College’s Policy Committee. For the future, the Committee is working on developing additional pro bono opportunities for sponsors in Central and South America, Africa, and India. Progress reports will be offered in future blogs and in reports at the Policy Committee meetings and presentations during the College’s annual conference (this year in Austin, Texas). For further information at any time – email jbruen@fbm.com or call Jim Bruen at 415.954.4430.
Tags: China Project, China