William P. Alford
Encyclopedia
William P. Alford (born 1948) is a US legal scholar. He is currently Henry L. Stimson Professor of Law and Vice Dean for the Graduate Program and International Legal Studies at Harvard Law School
(Massachusetts, USA). He is Director of East Asian Legal Studies at Harvard Law, and is regarded as an expert in the field of Chinese law
.
He is an honorary professor of Renmin University, Zhejiang University
and the China National School of Administration
, and an Honorary Fellow of the American Studies Institute of the Department of Law of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
. He directed the China Center for American Law Study, the first academic program in U.S. law in the PRC, was a founder in 1982 of the U.S. Committee on Legal Education Exchange with China, is the recipient of a number of awards and fellowships for his work on China, and is on a host of advisory and editorial boards.
from Amherst College
in 1970, LL.B degree from Cambridge University in 1972. He received M.A.
s in Chinese Studies and Chinese History from Yale University
in 1974 and 1975, respectively, and a J.D from Harvard Law School
in 1977.
He has been involved for decades in China's legal reform. Almost 25 years ago, with Professor Randle Edwards, then of Columbia, he founded the first academic program in the PRC on American law and the first national exchange program to bring Chinese students to the U.S. for legal education—including many who are in the forefront of legal change in China today. In the years since, he has been called on by both US government and China’s—as well as multilateral organizations, foundations, civic groups and NGOs
, law firms and businesses—to offer advices on a range of issues from trade to human rights to intellectual property to the legal profession and legal education and beyond. In recent years, he has focused on the pro bono work with the Special Olympics
in issues of disability in China.
of Harvard University since 1991. She is a graduate of People's University of China (now Renmin University of China
) in Beijing, Harvard Law School, and the University of Wisconsin (Ph.D.). Her father was a governor of Zhejiang Province
in China.
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
(Massachusetts, USA). He is Director of East Asian Legal Studies at Harvard Law, and is regarded as an expert in the field of Chinese law
Chinese law
Chinese law is one of the oldest legal traditions in the world. In the 20th and 21st century, law in China has been a complex mix of traditional Chinese approaches and Western influences....
.
He is an honorary professor of Renmin University, Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University , sometimes referred to as Zheda, is a national university in China. Founded in 1897, Zhejiang University is one of China's oldest institutions of higher education...
and the China National School of Administration
China National School of Administration
China National School of Administration , changed its name into "Chinese Academy of Governance" in 2010, located in Beijing, China, is a training center for middle and senior government officials of the Chinese government, owned by the State Council...
, and an Honorary Fellow of the American Studies Institute of the Department of Law of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences , established in 1977, is the premier and highest academic research organization in the fields of philosophy and social sciences as well as a national center for comprehensive studies in the People's Republic of China. It was described by Foreign Policy...
. He directed the China Center for American Law Study, the first academic program in U.S. law in the PRC, was a founder in 1982 of the U.S. Committee on Legal Education Exchange with China, is the recipient of a number of awards and fellowships for his work on China, and is on a host of advisory and editorial boards.
Biography
Alford received his B.A. degreeBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
in 1970, LL.B degree from Cambridge University in 1972. He received M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
s in Chinese Studies and Chinese History from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1974 and 1975, respectively, and a J.D from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1977.
He has been involved for decades in China's legal reform. Almost 25 years ago, with Professor Randle Edwards, then of Columbia, he founded the first academic program in the PRC on American law and the first national exchange program to bring Chinese students to the U.S. for legal education—including many who are in the forefront of legal change in China today. In the years since, he has been called on by both US government and China’s—as well as multilateral organizations, foundations, civic groups and NGOs
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
, law firms and businesses—to offer advices on a range of issues from trade to human rights to intellectual property to the legal profession and legal education and beyond. In recent years, he has focused on the pro bono work with the Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
in issues of disability in China.
Personal life
Professor Alford is married to Dr. Yuanyuan Shen, a lawyer, and an Associate in Research at the Fairbank Center for the East Asian ResearchFairbank Center for Chinese Studies
The Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University is a post-graduate research center promoting the study of modern and contemporary China from a social science perspective. -History:...
of Harvard University since 1991. She is a graduate of People's University of China (now Renmin University of China
Renmin University of China
Renmin University of China; RUC, also known as People's University of China , colloquially Renda , is a major research university in Haidian District, Beijing, China. Its campus neighbors those of Peking University and Tsinghua University....
) in Beijing, Harvard Law School, and the University of Wisconsin (Ph.D.). Her father was a governor of Zhejiang Province
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
in China.
Books
- Alford, William P., The Changing international legal order : a Chinese perspective, Los Angeles, Calif. : Academic Pub. Service, 1984
- Alford, William P.,To Steal a Book Is an Elegant Offense: Intellectual Property Law in Chinese Civilization, Stanford, Calif. : Stanford University Press, 1995. ISBN 0804722706
- Alford, William P., (editor), Raising the bar : the emerging legal profession in East Asia, Cambridge, Mass. : East Asian Legal Studies, Harvard Law School, 2006. ISBN 0674014529
Articles
- Alford, William P.; Liebman, Benjamin. "Clean Air, Clean Processes? The Struggle Over Air Pollution Law in the People's Republic of China," 52 Hastings Law Journal 703 (2001).
- Alford, William P., "Exporting the 'Pursuit of Happiness'," 113 Harvard Law Review 1677 (2000)
- Alford, William P., "Have You Eaten, Have You Divorced? Debating the Meaning of Freedom in Marriage in China" in Realms of Freedom in Modern China (William C. Kirby ed., Stanford University Press, 2004).
- Alford, William P., "Of Lawyers Lost and Found: Searching for Legal Professionalism in the People's Republic of China" in Raising the Bar: The Emerging Legal Profession in East Asia (East Asian Legal Studies, Harvard Law School, 2007).
See also
- J. Mark RamseyerJ. Mark RamseyerJohn Mark Ramseyer is Mitsubishi Professor of Japanese Legal Studies at Harvard Law School and a leading scholar on the subjects of Japanese Law and Law and Economics.-Education:* B.A., Goshen College 1976, History...
: Professor of Japanese legal studies at HLS; member of East Asian Legal Studies advisory committee - Jerome A. CohenJerome A. CohenJerome Alan Cohen is a professor of law at New York University School of Law, an expert in Chinese law, a senior fellow for Asia Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, and serves as "of counsel" at the international law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.Cohen was originally...
: New York UniversityNew York UniversityNew York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
scholar (emeritus) of Chinese law - Donald C. ClarkeDonald C. ClarkeDonald C. Clarke is a law professor specializing in Chinese law at The George Washington University Law School. His interests range from Chinese criminal law and procedure to corporate governance. His Chinese name is Guo Danqing .-Biography:...
: George Washington University Law School expert on Chinese law - Nicholas C. Howson: U.S. scholar of Chinese law at University of Michigan Law SchoolUniversity of Michigan Law SchoolThe University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
- Derk BoddeDerk BoddeDerk Bodde was a prominent 20th century American Sinologist and historian of China. He authored pioneering work in the history of the Chinese legal system....
(1909–2003): U.S. sinologist and scholar of pre-modern Chinese law and society - William C. Jones: former U.S. scholar of pre-modern Chinese law
- Institutes studying Chinese Law