National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University School of Law


The National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University School of Law is a postgraduate law school located on the campus of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Hsinchu, Taiwan. NYCU Law has gone through several name changes, founded as the "Intellectual Property Management" Program in 1993, then in 2000 becoming the Institute of Technology Law, then in 2015 becoming the National Chiao Tung University School of Law, before merging in February 2021 with the National Yang-Ming University law department to become the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University School of Law. It is a postgraduate professional school, awarding master's degrees as well as doctorates, aiming to provide a cross-disciplinary legal education environment. NYCU Law is one of the few law schools in Taiwan that teaches Anglo-American common law systems, alongside traditional civil law systems.

Student body

NYCU Law hosts a more diverse student body than most of the traditional law schools or departments in Taiwan, where the mainstream has been awarding bachelor's degrees in law, and accepting only those with a prior law degree into more advanced legal programs. NYCU Law recruits students with a legal educational background, such as those with a first or more advanced law degree, and also students from other academical disciplines, such as literature, science, or engineering.
NYCU Law accepts full-time students and part-time students, among which include those in the legal professions such as judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and counsels who seek more advanced study, and those with technical backgrounds including engineers, salespersons, and businesspersons, including those working at the nearby Hsinchu Science Park, who intend to acquire knowledge of law.

Faculty

The NYCU School of Law has 11 full-time faculty members and a diverse body of adjunct faculty consisting of experienced judges, prosecutors, attorneys, and entrepreneurs.

Publications

  • The NYCU Law Review is the flagship journal at the NYCU School of Law. The journal focuses on contemporary legal studies, emphasizing the alignment of jurisprudence with societal contexts. Additionally, the journal seeks to provide a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue.Digital Law Asia is a platform that gathers scholars, practitioners, and legal experts from various regions to engage in academic discussion and analysis on subjects related to digital law in Asia. Digital Law Asia is overseen by a 5-person editorial board, which consists of scholars from three different universities in Taiwan. Digital Law Asia focuses on publishing shorter blog posts, accepting submissions that range from 500 to 2,000 words. In addition to written content, the platform also features multimedia elements such as podcasts and videos. The platform was established by the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Center for Digital Governance and Legal Innovation and the School of Law.

Reputation

The NYCU School of Law has become Taiwan's center for intellectual property and technology law studies. NYCU School of Law organizes the annual "National Technology Law Conference," hosting hundreds of scholars and legal professionals, as well as business managers and government officials to discuss a wide range of topics from intellectual property law to business strategy. In 2023, NYCU Law was ranked 257 in the world in the subject of law and the 3rd best law school in Taiwan by the QS World University Rankings.

Research Centers

The NYCU School of Law hosts research centers producing research and engaging in interdisciplinary legal studies. These research centers include: Center for Digital Governance and Legal Innovation, Center for Enterprise & Entrepreneurship, Center for Trans-Pacific Partnership and Transnational Trade Laws, and Research Center for Financial Regulation and Corporate Governance. The activities of these centers vary. For example, the Center for Digital Governance and Legal Innovation sponsors the Digital Law Asia website, a platform aimed at bringing together leading and emerging scholars, practitioners, and experts to contribute scholarly discussions and critical perspectives on matters relating to digital law in Asia.

International Cooperation

The NYCU School of Law maintains cooperative relationships with many law schools, including the law schools at Duke University, Singapore Management University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Neuchâtel, and the Robert H. McKinney School of Law at Indiana University. These cooperations include short-term exchange meetings, a reciprocal exchange of credits program, and dual degree programs. The NYCU School of Law is a member of the International Association of Law Schools, Asian Law Institute, and the Asian Law Schools Association.

Online programs

The NYCU School of Law has been an early adopter of online courses, with a regular offering each semester, including the summer term. These classes are either fully asynchronous online courses, synchronous courses with an online, real-time video component, or hybrid courses.