The 70 Years of Legal Education in China from 1949 to 2023: Historical Development, Current Issues and Future Innovations

Abstract

China’s modern legal education system, characterized by its development over more than seven decades since the founding of New China, has undergone distinct stages including the initial period, stagnation and frustration, restoration and development, comprehensive development, and innovation and development. Based on both empirical and case studies, this article identifies issues in China’s modern legal education system such as the imbalanced distribution of educational resources, inadequacy in theoretical and practical teaching methods, as well as insufficient training for foreign-related legal talents. To address these challenges effectively, this article proposes innovative approaches, including deepening collaboration between academia and industry to narrow regional disparities in education provision; enhancing scenario-based applications of artificial intelligence (AI), the metaverse and other emergent technologies within the field of legal education; as well as aligning the goal of cultivating legal talents with global trends through comprehensive reform strategies. This article aims to offer a novel pathway for Chinese legal education to embrace globalization, while at the same time presenting a new paradigm for international scholars studying Chinese legal education.