超详版 Boston College (BC Law) 法学院咨询帖

vegetable03UID: 3761455

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Diretor Susan Simone Kang
Director, Graduate Legal Education & International Programs

7:40 pm - 9: 10 pm (GMT+08:00 China, Singapore, Perth)
March 19, 2017
Online via WeChat

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Bill (B): Good morning, Susan.

Susan (S): Good morning, Bill.

B: So, you are currently travelling to Chile, how is it going?

S: It’s OK. In fact, we are building some new partnerships with the schools in Chile and tomorrow I will attend two meetings with them.

B: That sounds great! You are quite busy these days so I think maybe we’d better start our conversation now to spare some rest time for you.

S: Oh, don’t worry about that. It’s my pleasure to talk with you.

B: OK. My questions cover five perspectives of BC Law: Costs, Current Students & Alumni, Summer Institute, MA Bar & LLM Curriculum, and Faculty Members. Are you ready?

S: Go ahead.

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1. Costs

B: Let’s talk about the Cost first. What’s the total expenses for incoming LLM student this fall?

S: The total expenses include the Tuition & Fees (Tuition, law student association fee, federal direct stafford loan fee, books) and the Living Expenses (rent & utilities, board, transportation and personal). The Tuition increases by $2000 this year, as you can see on our website. Others remain stable except for the increase of Living Cost. According to the US average, the living cost increases 3% per year and this number will be even larger considering that you live in Boston, one of the most expensive cities in the US. By the way, other cities which has a high cost of living may include Los Angeles (CA) and New York City (NY).

B: Does the total expenses cover the health insurance? You see, this item is not listed on the official budget. However, it is said that everyone need a health insurance, it is mandatory.

S: I am a lawyer so I have to organize my words with caution. Generally speaking, the health insurance is not mandatory (PS: thanks to the President Trump), but I am not sure about the details of the health insurance, like the price, the duration of insurance. I will ask one of my Chinese student, then give you a response.

B: Now let’s talk about the Law Student Association Fee ($150). What if I do not join any student organization?

S: Actually all LLM students need to pay this. Here is how it works: the LLM representative (Last year is a Chinese and this year is the guy from the France) will make the budget on how to spend it to improve the community of LLM student in BC Law. Of course you will receive the budget made by the LLM representative, and you can ask him/her any question about the budget.

B: I see. How about the Federal Direct Stafford Loan Fee? I think that’s not in my budget.

S: Sure, the Federal Direct Stafford Loan Fee is unrelated to you.

B: Now comes to Housing. May I choose to live on-campus?

S: I am sorry but all graduates (LLM students included) need to live off-campus because the dorms are designed for undergraduate students, with an exception of the Summer Institute.

B: Understand. Given that, how can I find a good landlord if I need to live off-campus. Uh, there is a official website called the Boston College Off-Campus Housing and I have already registered it. Will this be helpful?

S: Yeah, you’ve got the right way! I strongly recommend the Boston College Off-Campus Housing because it has many advantages…… and it can even help you find a roommate!

B: OK, how about the agent fee? Will I be charged the agent fee by using the Boston College Off-Campus Housing?

S: I am not so sure. You know in America, housing agency refers to the specific people who has the certification. If you really want to avoid the agency fee, maybe you can contact with the currently LLM student here and sublease his/her room.

B: Great. The last question in this section is about the dining. I notice that there is a dining room named Quonset Hut in the Newton Campus (Boston College Law School is located in the Newton campus, miles from the main campus, namely, the Chestnut Hill campus). It that open for LLM students?

S: Sure. The Quonset Hut has a nice cafeteria and a store. You can use your student ID card for the payment, it’s convenient. The Quonset Hut also accepts paying in cash.

B: That’s all about the Cost, thank you.

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2. Current Student & Alumni

B: Now I’d like to learn something about Current Student & Alumni. How many LL.M. students will be enrolled in fall? According to the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), BC Law enrolled 10 LLM students last year while historically at a maximum of 15 (See Boston College Statistics International Students, Faculty & Research Scholars 2016-2017).

S: Well, I am afraid that actually 14 LLM students are studying in BC Law now, and yes, the maximum of LLM student enrolled is 15. However, this year there might be even more students. Let me explain why: This year we have built many new partnerships with the schools globally. You see,I travel a lot, including Chile and Peru. Our partner school, obviously, want their students to study in BC Law, thus making the number of incoming LLM student this year larger. I cannot be 100% sure, but a maximum of 20 is expected.

B: Thanks for you explanation. You’ve mentioned the diversity, so may I ask where do these LLM students come from? Do not feel offensive if this question relates to security issues.

S: Of course not. This is not a security issue. Well let me first start with the international students in Boston College. Countries with Largest Student Representation at Boston College are China, South Korean, India, and the UK. The truth is South Korean takes the biggest part while China is the second. When it comes to BC Law, there are six Chinese students currently studying LLM program, which means 43% of international students come from China.

B: That sounds terrific. To be honesty, I don’t want to attend a law school crowded with Chinese students…How about the Alumni? It is said that you will provide a short biographies for BC Law’s alumni from China if requested. May I ask for this?

S: Of course you can. I am not in America, so I will call my assistant Julie Geary on Monday to send you the information. Unfortunately, I don’t think the information would be of great help, since Julie only has limited access to our alumni system. Nevertheless, I recommend X for you, she is the unofficial alumni of China, I suppose (laugh). You can contact her for further information about our Chinese alumni.

B: Thank you very much!

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3.Summer Institute

B: About the Summer Institute… I am afraid that my English proficiency is below the average, that’s why BC Law requires me to attend the Summer Institute. So can you tell me something about the Summer Institute?

S: Yes. It’s called the Foundations of US Law & Practice. In this three-week studying, you will meet twenty law professors of BC Law and learn to think like a lawyer as the JD students do. We are aiming at providing you the approach, not the vocabulary (laugh). Let me tell you something new: This year we invite a real prosecutor who graduated from BC Law, a real judge in MA, they will participate in the moot trail with students. You will also be engaged in speech hold by local law firm.

B: Wow, that’s cool! Who will participate in the Summer Institute apart from the incoming LLM students?

S: There will be two professors from China, one from Renmin University and one from other university. Some students of Renmin University might attend the Summer Institute, too. In addition, students from France and Chile are also included.

B: May I ask about a fee wavier for this Summer Institute?

S: I am afraid not. The fact is that our budget for this program is tight, so… Besides, LLM students receive their scholarships, which will reduce their cost.

B: That’s OK, sounds I need to change my budget (laugh). Well, it is said that participants must submit verification that they have obtained medical insurance prior to the start of the Summer Institute, am I right?

S: Correct.

B: That’s the question: how can I deal with this pre-insurance considering that I already have a health insurance required by the LLM program?

S: What a good question! Last year most students use the traveller insurance to meet the requirement. I noticed that and then consulted the university officer about this problem. The result turns out to be good: for LLM student who already own a insurance that meets the requirement of university policy, he/she needn’t buy a pre-insurance for attending the Summer Institute. In other words, LLM students’ insurance will be covered.

B: Great! Uh…you just mentioned that there is an exception where graduate students can live in campus. Am I qualified for that?

S: Sure. During the summer vacation, little undergraduates live in dorm so there are adequate rooms for visiting scholars and students. You will live in the main campus—the Chestnut Hill campus, it’s really beautiful.

B: That’s thrilling! The last question is about the time scheduling. As far as I see, students who attended the program last year started the Summer Institute on July 17 and ended up on August 5. However the Orientation for freshmen began on August 25 that year. So what did these students do in this gap?

S: Many decided to travel. It is understandable since the forthcoming study in law school is really tough. I am happy to tell you that this year the Orientation will start on August 14 so that the gap narrows down from twenty days to seven days only. Besides, I will teach additional courses for students who are interested in improving themselves after the Summer Institute.

B: I will definitely take your courses if you still have time to relax.

S: (laugh) Yeah, the relax…Well I am confused that there are just too many applicants for the Summer Institute (normally 20 participants every year), more than I excepted. I am sure that I haven’t posted any advertisement about that, how do they know?

B: I guess that’s because of the quality of this Summer Institute. BC Law provides a different way to help LLM students prepare their legal studying ahead of time…A way different from other law schools.

S: Other law schools?

B: Yep. I don’t want to mention the name…there are many law schools providing the summer school. However, they arrange some English professors to teach LLM students, which means teaching vocabulary instead of legal analysis and legal wiring. Of course their students would benefit a lot, but it’s just not related to legal studying.

S: I see, so that’s why…

B: (interrupt) That’s why many students are applying for your Summer Institute—we know who really take care of students.

S: Thanks for your explanation.

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4. MA Bar & LLM Curriculum

B: Now it’s time for Bar and Curriculum. Let me introduce my academic interests and studying plan first. As shown in the Personal Statement, I am interested in intellectual property law and I want to develop a concentration on that field. On the other hand, I need to meet the requirement of MA Bar to sit for MA Bar Exam. My question is, can I achieve both?

S: Again my answer should be cautious. Many LLM students come to BC Law, having the same confusion like you. In the end most of them succeed. Few students fail because they are not well prepared. Once a student asked me to help make a study plan, but he was not sured about whether taking the MA Bar or the NY Bar. So it got really difficult for me to help him. At the end of the semester, he told me that he didn’t want to take Bar Exam any longer. How ridiculous!

B: Well, I see.

S: I am glad that you choose the MA Bar. Nowadays NY Bar Exam becomes harder and harder (e.g. 50 hours pro bono), while MA Bar Exam is comparatively easier.

B: That’s a good news. How about the Clinic and Externships? I’ve heard that to sit for a US Bar Exam, totally 24 in-class credits are required. I am not sure about whether the credits of clinic and externships are countable regarding the Bar requirements.

S: Good question! I cannot answer it with certainty since I do not have a class schedule at hand. Maybe we can discuss it later. Is that OK?

B: Sure. It seems that several questions related to this topic must be put aside…

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5. Faculty Member

B: In this section, I would like to learn something about the faculty members. Don’t worry, I just want to know something about the Mentor and JD Body, like…how does they work?

S: (laugh) Let me introduce the Mentor first. When you attend the Summer Institute, I will ask your academic interests and help your determine your learning path in the BC Law. Then I will use all the information you shared to match the law professors in our faculty. Second, the JD Body. We will find some JD students who are volunteering to help LLM students. Typically, your JD Body would be someone who are interested in China, planing to go to China for a visit, or have already visited China. I think this will help you find the right person.

B: Definitely. And I am wondering if I could “select” my Mentor?

S: Uh-Huh, Let me make a guess! Wait…It must be Professor X!

B: Wow (unbelievable)! How do you know that?

S: (laugh) It’s a easy task for me. Oh, I forget to mention that one of our librarian is a Chinese JD student, you can contact with him too.

B: Thank you! That’s all my questions about BC Law now. I’m so pleased to talk with you, again thanks for you time!

S: You’re welcome. Hope to see you this fall!

B: Bye.

Earl_greyUID: 3735355

vegetable03 发表于 2017-4-3 17:41
BC的规模一直很小，今年可能到20人。LLM去大班还是小班，就看个人喜好了

haha是的、不过项目规模小≠小班教学，我问了bc的老师，他们的课多是七八十人。

还是倾向于seminar类型的小班~

vegetable03UID: 3761455

Earl_grey 发表于 2017-4-3 14:58
太棒了，问的问题也很好，支持。
不过项目是不是太小了--15人的话……

BC的规模一直很小，今年可能到20人。LLM去大班还是小班，就看个人喜好了

Earl_greyUID: 3735355

太棒了，问的问题也很好，支持。
不过项目是不是太小了--15人的话……

vegetable03UID: 3761455

enjoy_life 发表于 2017-3-20 18:37
Your English is absolutely above average!

谢谢你啦～感谢你能看得这么仔细

enjoy_lifeUID: 3730359

Your English is absolutely above average!

vegetable03UID: 3761455

照例求精，抱版主大腿

有对BC LLM感兴趣的坛友自取。

根据回忆整理，难免出现差错，还请海涵。