Program Overview

Course Profile

General Course Information

The course code is LLAW3292, and the course name is Law and Society in China. This course is offered under the LLB Programme and is scheduled for the second semester. It is not designated as a research course and does not have a specialization. There are no prerequisites or co-requisites for this course, and it is not available to non-law students. The course is worth 9 credits or 6 credits.

This course is cross-listed as an LLM elective. Senior year LLB students (i.e., LLB 3-4 and Double Degree 4-5) are allowed to take certain LLM courses as their law electives, subject to meeting certain requirements.

Course Description

This course aims to explore the theoretical and practical issues relating to law and society in China. It examines the extent to which law, as a tool for politics and development, has affected social change and how social forces have influenced the functioning of law and the interaction among legal institutions in China. The course discusses the operation of China's political-legal system, lawmaking, courts, legal professions, various forms of dispute resolution, legal consciousness and mobilization, criminal and civil justice, and how the Chinese case pushes the boundaries of socio-legal theories. It also addresses the impact of law on people's behavior, how law mediates the interaction between state and society, and the relationship between social change and legal change.

Course Teachers

The course convenor is Sida Liu. The consultation method is by email.

Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• CLO 1: Describe the basic social structures of the Chinese legal system.
• CLO 2: Explain how legal change and social change interact in contemporary China.
• CLO 3: Apply socio-legal concepts and theories to understand various legal and social phenomena in China.

Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

The course contributes to the following PLOs:

• PLO A
• PLO B
• PLO C
• PLO D
• PLO E
• PLO F

All CLOs (1, 2, and 3) are mapped to each of the PLOs (A to F).

Assessment

Assessment Summary

The assessment consists of two tasks:

• In-class reading response essays (30%): This task assesses CLOs 1, 2, and 3. Feedback will be provided through in-class verbal feedback.
• Research paper (70%): This task assesses CLOs 1, 2, and 3. Feedback will be provided through a general course report disseminated through Moodle or individual feedback via email/Moodle.

Assessment Detail

To be advised by the course convenor.

Grading Criteria

To be advised by the course convenor.

Learning Activities

Learning Activity Plan

The course includes:

• Seminar: 3 hours/week for 12 teaching weeks
• Private study time: 9.5 hours/week for 12 teaching weeks

The normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (i.e., 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of the classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.

Details of Learning Activities

To be advised by the course convenor.

Learning Resources

• Reading materials are posted on Moodle.
• Core reading list: To be announced
• Recommended reading list: To be announced