O’Melveny & Myers LLP is a values-driven law firm guided by the principles of uncompromising excellence, distinctive leadership, and superior citizenship.  Established in 1885, the firm maintains 15 offices around the world, with approximately 700 lawyers, and has grown to become one of the largest and most reputable international law firms in the world.  O’Melveny & Myers opened its Shanghai office in 1996 and started to provide legal services for China’s fast developing economy, and has become the biggest international law firm in Shanghai.  Pursuant to Chinese government regulations, O’Melveny & Myers established its Beijing office in 2002, making it one of the first international law firms approved by the Ministry of Justice to practice in both Beijing and Shanghai concurrently.

The firm started the O’Melveny & Myers Beijing Legal Scholarship Awards Program in 2004, with the aim of encouraging and supporting Chinese law students in their study and research, providing assistance in the development and training of legal talents in China, and contributing to legal exchanges and cooperation between China and the United States.  

 

 

In October 2014, the Eleventh O’Melveny & Myers Beijing Legal Scholarship Award Ceremony was held at the Park Hyatt Beijing

In Beijing, a Selection Committee consisting of distinguished professors of law, legal professionals, and representatives from O’Melveny & Myers every year selects a total of 12 award winners from third-year undergraduates and second-year postgraduate law students (including doctorate students) from the School of Civil Law and Economic Law of China University of Political Science and Law; the School of Law of the University of International Business and Economics; Peking University Law School; Renmin University of China Law School; and Tsinghua University Law School (in alphabetical order).

The selection process is divided into three phases: nomination by the schools, review of nominees’ materials by the Selection Committee, and interviews with the finalists.  First, each of the schools recommends four third-year undergraduates and three second-year postgraduate students from its qualified registered full-time students majoring in law.  All recommendations are based on the following criteria: work ethics, good academic performance, strong citizenship and public moral consciousness, passion for public interest work, a good command of English (at least at College English Test Level VI) or another foreign language at a proficiency level equivalent to College English Test Level VI and outstanding performance in other aspects (such as academic research, leadership and social activities).  The schools prepare a list of materials for each candidate for submission to the Selection Committee.  The materials submitted by each candidate should include a resume in both Chinese and English (each version not exceeding one page), school transcripts with rankings, comments by supervisors on the character of the candidate, and references from two professors.  If the candidate has published in the past, the materials should include evaluations on such publication by a professor.

The Selection Committee subsequently conducts a preliminary review of the materials submitted by the schools and selects four students from the seven recommended by each school, two undergraduates and two postgraduates.

 

 

In October 2013, the Tenth O’Melveny & Myers Beijing Legal Scholarship Award Ceremony was held at the Park Hyatt Beijing

 

O’Melveny & Myers sends notice to the 20 finalists and the Selection Committee arranges panel interviews with each. The interviews are conducted in Chinese. Twelve scholarship winners are selected on the basis of an evaluation by the Selection Committee after the interviews.  Among the final twelve winners, two are selected for the special scholarship awards and ten (five undergraduates and five postgraduates) for the outstanding scholarship awards.  Each of the special award winners receives a scholarship of RMB15,000 and each of the outstanding award winners receives a scholarship of RMB7,000.

O’Melveny & Myers will stay in touch with scholarship winners and follow up with their studies and work going forward.

Articles of Establishment of the

O’Melveny & Myers Legal Scholarship

I. Goals

O’Melveny & Myers LLP is a values-driven international law firm guided by the principles of uncompromising excellence, distinctive leadership, and superior citizenship. O’Melveny & Myers LLP has established and funded the O’Melveny & Myers Beijing Legal Scholarship (the “Scholarship”) to encourage and support Chinese law students in their study and research; to provide assistance in the development and training of legal talents in China; and to contribute to legal exchange and cooperation between China and the US.

 

II. Recipients

Recipients should be third-year full-time undergraduates or second-year full-time postgraduate law students (including doctorate students), at the School of Civil Law and Economic Law of China University of Political Science and Law; the School of Law of the University of International Business and Economics; Peking University Law School; Renmin University of China Law School; and Tsinghua University Law School (in alphabetical order).

 

III. Method of Scholarship Awards 

Number of Scholarships: 12, of which 2 are Special Awards and 10 are Outstanding Awards (five undergraduates and five postgraduates).

Scholarship Amount: Special Award winners receive a scholarship of RMB15,000 each, and Outstanding Award winners receive a scholarship of RMB7,000 each.

 

IV. Qualifications for the Scholarships

1.Work ethics and good academic performance, top 30% in academic record (preferred);

2.Strong citizenship and public moral consciousness, passion for public interest work;

3.Good command of English (at least at College English Test Level VI) or another foreign language at a proficiency level equivalent to College English Test Level VI (applicable to students whose second language is not English);

4.Outstanding performance in other aspects, such as academic research, leadership and social activities.

 

V.Method of Selection

1.The candidates must be qualified registered full-time students majoring in law at the School of Civil Law and Economic Law of China University of Political Science and Law; the School of Law of the University of International Business and Economics; Peking University Law School; Renmin University of China Law School; and Tsinghua University Law School (in alphabetical order).

2.Each of the above schools may recommend four undergraduates and three postgraduate students eligible for review by the Selection Committee.

3.The above schools should prepare a list of candidates and materials for each candidate for submission to the Selection Committee.  The materials for each candidate should include a resume in both Chinese and English (each version not exceeding one page), school transcripts with rankings, comments by supervisors on the character of the candidate, and references from two professors.  If the candidate has published in the past, the materials should include evaluations on such publication by a professor. (Detailed requirements on materials may be interpreted and adjusted by the managing unit of each of the participating schools.  This Clause shall prevail if no other interpretations are available).

4.The Selection Committee will conduct a preliminary review of the materials submitted by the schools and select four candidates (two undergraduates and two postgraduate students) from the seven candidates recommended by each school, i.e. in all, 20 students out of the 35 candidates.

5.Interviews shall be presided over by members of the Selection Committee.  Interviews shall be conducted in Chinese. Twelve scholarship winners will be selected on the basis of an evaluation after the interviews.

6.Out of the 12 winners, two should be designated as Special Awards winners, and 10 (five undergraduates and five postgraduates) Outstanding Awards winners. 

 

VI.Make-up of the Selection Committee

The Selection Committee consists of distinguished professors of law and representatives from O’Melveny & Myers.

 

VII.Details of the scholarships will be decided by the Managing Committee of O’Melveny & Myers LLP.

 

The Selection Committee has the power of interpreting these Articles.