The Crossing the Language and Cultural Divide- the Challenges of Educating Asian Law Students in a Globalising World

Abstract

Over recent years, large numbers of law students from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries have undertaken legal studies in overseas institutions. In Australia the growth in the number of Asian students undertaking degrees in law over the past decade has been staggering. This phenomenon gives rise to a number of important issues. In this teaching note, we set out some of the important reasons why Asian students have seen it as necessary to seek to further their legal education in countries such as Australia. This involves an assessment of the type of skills required of those Asian students undertaking law in Australia and how the educative process should continue to evolve to meet these needs. This note then sets out the experiences in two particular situations, the teaching of Business Law to Asian Students and an innovative Australian postgraduate program taught in Mandarin. These experiences further highlight the need for Australian Universities to carefully consider their strategies when offering courses for Asian students, particularly in view of the challenges posed by the continuing development of globalisation in the 21st Century.

Keywords: legal education

JEL Classification: K40