基本情况：张同学，北京交通大学，法学本科，GPA 3.5，TOEFL 85 

录取学校：Washington University in St. Louis LLM 

Legal studies are as vast as the sea, and my undergraduate education has allowed me to sail along the coastline. This academic journey is fulfilling and mind-expanding, yet I am far from my goal. Eager to broaden my knowledge, I have set my sights on the Master of Law (LL.M.) program in the United States. Studying law in the United States will enrich my understanding of the Anglo-American legal system and international laws and eventually set the stage for a J.D. degree and a successful career in law afterwards. Specifically, my short-term career goal is to become an attorney in a reputable law firm in China and to focus on international civil and commercial arbitration and litigation. In the long term, I intend to start an “Internet plus” legal services corporation, which will provide individuals and organizations with free or low-cost online legal solutions on business fraud, intellectual property infringement, and financial scam in the international business environment, as well as advance the cause of justice and rule of law in Internet practices. The professional knowledge, language skills, and global savvy developed through the LL.M. program of Washington University can aid me tremendously in reaching these goals. 

In graduate school, I will delve deeper into two specialized areas, namely, international business regulation, litigation, and arbitration; and intellectual property rights (IPRs). The application of international trade rules involves negotiation, signing and fulfillment of contracts and agreements, dispute resolution, settlement of bills and payments, anti- dumping and anti-subsidy investigations, and international investment, to name a few. Therefore, a strong command of international trade rules is a prerequisite for a lawyer to address such area. At the same time, I hope to improve my mastery of key concepts and techniques regarding the economic analysis of law. Influential US laws such as The Uniform Commercial Code emphasizes the use of economic concepts and cost-benefit analysis to explain the effects and efficiency of laws. Given that the legislative purpose of modern commercial laws is to promote the convenient and safe execution of commercial dealings, this inherent consistency between commercial laws and the economy determines the need for the economic analysis of commercial laws. In today’s world, laws are inseparable from economic development. Therefore, studying law is crucial in understanding the ways in which transactions in mass production drive the evolution of commercial laws and how commercial laws provide organizations with legal protection to guarantee transaction security and benefits. American business law is one of the most mature and effective commercial legal systems in the world because of its openness, initiative, and degree of protection. For this reason, I intend to obtain a thorough understanding of the system by obtaining the LLM for Foreign-Trained Lawyers Program at Washington University. 

Another area of interest is intellectual property law, which has an increasingly vital role in the context of international business. In the last decade, China has made a quantum leap toward the protection of IPRs. However, compared with that in developed countries, the intellectual property legislation and promulgation in China are still in the fledging phase, featuring a lack of intellectual property awareness and a disconnect between legislation and application in technology, economics, and international trade. Moreover, legal loopholes and inadequate law enforcement have increased intellectual property crime and the cost to safeguard IPRs. In promoting innovation and the global competitiveness of domestic enterprises, talented and ethical IPR practitioners with exceptional expertise and a global perspective will be in high demand. In consideration of such trend and my professional interest, I am eager to grasp knowledge of federal and international IPR laws and accumulate strong analytical and critical thinking skills at Washington University. With such growth, I make my own contribution to the innovation-driven transformation in China. 

As a senior college student majoring in Legal Studies, I have built a solid theoretical foundation for graduate school. By far, I have studied 14 major courses spanning a range of fields in Chinese and Anglo-American laws. My performance in International Economic Law, Economic Law, and Contract Law prove my enthusiasm for these subjects and my capability to fulfill the requirements of the LLM program. To deepen my exposure, I have read several law masterpieces, such as The Spirit of Laws, Procedural Justice and Litigation, and The US Constitutional Experience: 25 Landmark Cases Which Shaped Modern America. 

Besides, I have paid close attention to applying theory to practice. In 2016, I secured an internship in Beijing First Intermediate People’s Court. By assisting judges and clerks with filing and court recording, I reinforced my understanding of concepts and caught a glimpse of the work flow of the Chinese judicial system together with the litigation and approval procedures. This real-world experience ignited my desire to identify the differences between Chinese and American procedural law. Likewise, my internship in Beijing JunZeJun Law Office afforded me an overview of another legal profession, that of finance lawyers. At the law office, I was granted precious opportunities to work under the supervision of Mr. Xiuming Tao, a legal expert specializing in finance and the senior partner of the law office. While strengthening the expertise I acquired during my first internship, I received comprehensive training in dealing with legal issues in the capital market. Furthermore, I was assured that as globalization intensifies, an international perspective becomes a core quality for an outstanding lawyer. My internship at AXA Hong Kong and my summer study of economics in the University of Hong Kong in 2016 exposed me to the latest development of the global insurance industry and economics research in the law field. 

Apart from my academic background and industry experience, my leadership skills can help me thrive in graduate school and beyond. Since 2014, I have been working for the Students’ Union of Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU) School of Law, starting out as a director and then progressing to being a president. During my tenure, I initiated a social survey on the modification of China’s Railway Law, taking charge of task allocation and itinerary planning. In the research process, my team traveled nearly 1,000 km to visit the Beijing and Taiyuan Railway Bureaus and the Tianjin Railway Procuratorate, where we collected sufficient data for the final report, in which we provided constructive suggestions on the amendment of the railway law. Through this survey, I realized the importance of practice for law students. Later, I exerted effort to plan and organize other activities devoted to many aspects of law. For instance, I lead my team to hold the first constitution-themed speech contest “Learn Constitution and Talk about Constitution,” the “12.4” National Constitution Day events, and the campus-wide moot court competition. These activities unleashed my leadership potential and allowed me to assist students in building practical skills. 

Aside from legal studies and practice, I have demonstrated talents in various fields. For example, I served as director of “Monument,” a stage play presented by my school in memory of the “12.9” Movement. As the vocal leader of BJTU Chorus and a key member of Drama Club, I worked alongside my peers to deliver public performances, such as the BJTU Welcome Party, Commemoration Event for the 80th Anniversary of Long March at Tsinghua University, and Commemoration Event for the 120thAnniversary of BJTU. In my sophomore year, I was honored to participate in the special show, “The Backbone of the Republic,” in celebration of the National Day, which was aired on CCTV3. Overall, I long to sail on the vast sea of legal studies, and I feel confident that my skills and aptitude will enable me to contribute to the intellectual and cultural diversity of Washington University.