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China Report: Taking it to the Streets
Q & A with Cai Xianfeng 
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| Law students from Ningbo University School of Law |
Cai Xianfeng
teaches environmental law at Ningbo University Law School. The school`s
1,000 students are required to study environmental law. Cai is working
to expand the university`s law school clinic to include environmental
cases. During a ten-week ELAW Fellowship in Eugene he is working with
staff to learn about environmental clinics and strategize about
Ningbo`s clinic. Cai is also studying English at the University of
Oregon`s American English Institute.
Where is Ningbo University?
Ningbo (pop. 6 million) is on China’s southeast coast, close to Hangzhou and Shanghai. Hangzhou is a very famous and beautiful city. Shanghai (pop. 16 million) is the largest city in China. There is a new bridge across Hangzhou Bay, connecting Ningbo to Shanghai. It is 36 kilometers long and will open in 2008. This is reportedly the longest bridge in the world. It will take us just two hours to reach Shanghai by bus or car.
How does the Ningbo University Law School Clinic work?
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We established the clinic in 2003 and have six lawyers, who are also law professors. We receive about 700 complaints every year and take about 30 cases to court. Law students answer the phone and receive visitors five days a week. We have plans to expand to seven days. Students listen to citizens’ complaints (including complaints about pollution), create a written record, and work with a supervising attorney to decide which claims have merit. We are ready to supplement the existing legal clinic with environmental cases. This will have a good influence on East and South China, and on the environmental law training and teaching at the law school.
What are you learning at ELAW?
My visit to ELAW has been a very positive experience. I learned how ELAW operates and protects the environment through law across borders. I learned how to launch a public interest environmental clinic and how to apply and evaluate scientific data in environmental cases. I met and learned from local lawyers, judges, NGO leaders, and law professors. I also studied English at the American English Institute. I am grateful to ELAW for providing the Fellowship and to ELAW staff for their kind help.