Albany Law School Signs Agreement With Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade

Agreement includes visiting programs for students and faculty, research initiatives

ALBANY, N.Y., June 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Albany Law School today announced that it has signed an agreement with the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade (SIFT) in China to pursue cooperative educational programs and collaborative research initiatives for students and faculties in both countries.

As part of the agreement, Albany Law will host SIFT students in January 2011 for a study tour, and Albany Law students will travel to Shanghai in March 2011 for a course of study focused on commercial and business law issues between the two countries. In addition to formal classroom instruction, the students will make visits to Chinese courts, the Shanghai City government, U.S.-based law firms in Shanghai and corporate offices.

Albany Law also expects to host a visiting scholar from SIFT starting August 2010.

"Globalization of the legal profession and legal education is a reality. This agreement helps Albany Law better prepare its students to succeed in the fields of international law and business," said Albany Law's President and Dean Thomas Guernsey. "We anticipate a fruitful partnership with the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade that will be greatly beneficial to the students and faculties at both institutions."

Dean Guernsey, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Connie Mayer and Associate Dean Patricia Salkin traveled to Shanghai last week to meet with SIFT administration and faculty, and to formally sign the agreement. The signing was also attended by Christopher Beede, the deputy principal officer of the U.S. Consulate General Shanghai and David Turchetti, the vice president of programs for The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, both of whom spoke during the formal signing ceremony and lauded Albany Law for pursuing this collaborative relationship.

Albany Law has been fostering its relationship with SIFT for several years, hosting a number of delegations from the school and visiting Shanghai prior to signing the agreement.

ALBANY LAW SCHOOL is a small, independent private school in the heart of New York state's capital since 1851. As the oldest law school in New York and the oldest independent law school in the nation, the institution offers students an innovative, rigorous curriculum taught by a committed faculty. Several nationally recognized programs—including the Government Law Center and the Albany Law Clinic & Justice Center—provide opportunities for students to apply classroom learning. Students have access to New York's highest court, federal courts and the state legislature, as well as a thriving technology-based economy. With more than 9,000 alumni practicing in every state in the country, as well as several continents, the employment rate for graduates has been well above the national average for law schools for more than 25 years. Visit www.albanylaw.edu.

CONTACT: Nick Crounse of Albany Law School, +1-518-445-3208 or [email protected]

SOURCE Albany Law School