Jerome A. Cohen: Reflections on 50 Years of Chinese Law

Professor Jerome A. Cohen

Professor Cohen, a pioneer in the field of Chinese and Asian legal studies in the United States, played an important role in the re-opening of U.S.-China relations and has educated hundreds of government, NGO, legal and corporate leaders.

As the founder and director of East Asian Legal Studies at Harvard Law School (1964-1981), Professor Cohen helped introduce East Asian legal systems and perspectives into American legal curricula. He is of counsel (retired partner) to the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and was one of the earliest foreign lawyers practicing law in modern China.

Since 1990 Professor Cohen has been with New York University Law School, where he is co-director of the U.S.-Asia Law Institute and teaches courses on Chinese criminal justice, China's legal tradition, international business transactions, and international law. He is also an adjunct senior fellow for Asian Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. In recent years, Professor Cohen has also focused on addressing core issues in China's criminal process and human rights policies.