Beijing Arbitration Commission

I. About the Hosts

Beijing Arbitration Commission/Beijing International Arbitration Court（BAC/BIAC）

Established in 1995 as an independent and non-governmental institution, the BAC/BIAC has become the first self-funded arbitration institution in China in 1998 and is widely accepted as one of the primary arbitration institutions internationally.

With the aim of delivering trusted professional services, the BAC/BIAC endeavors to promote and encourage the resolution of disputes through efficacious arbitration and a comprehensive understanding of Chinese arbitration practices. Towards this end, the BAC/BIAC actively organizes the Annual Summit on Commercial Dispute Resolution in China, sponsors the Biennial ICCA Conference, and contributes constructively to the UNCITRAL Working Group II’s deliberations, as an observer.

II. About the Internship & Application Requirement

Based on BAC/BIAC International Internship, Beijing Rule of Law Fellow (“the Internship”) is an innovative move as BAC/BIAC decided to cooperate. It provides unique opportunity for international students to gain hands-on experience of Chinese legal matters and interact with talents in Chinese legal professionals.

Since the creation of BAC/BIAC International Internship in 2005, hundreds of students from 83 reputative universities in 18 countries applied and 80 students received the opportunity to intern in BAC/BIAC. They closely observed arbitration and dispute resolution practice in China, studied know-how at the top arbitration institution, and merged those Chinese “flavor” into their legal career. With the innovation of the Joint Internship, international students will have an enhanced experience by participating BAC/BIAC and CIIL’s tasks and networking with more Chinese legal professionals.

The international interns will be able to participate in the international arbitration procedures administered by BAC/BIAC. On a weekly basis in general, the hosts will invite talents in top law firms, arbitration institutions, courts, universities, etc. to have meetings with international interns (herein referred as “Rendez-vous”), which enable exchange of ideas and thoughts. This Rendez-vous will be inclusive for other hosts in certain period of time and subject to the hosts’ arrangement.

International interns applying for this program should meet the following criteria:

1. Currently pursuing a J.D. or above degree in a foreign law school. Because of the visa policy, the Joint Internship will not open for the graduate or serving officer;

2. Wish to understand Chinese arbitration, Chinese law and Chinese culture, good at cross-cultural communication;

3. Proficiency in Office;

4. The applicant shall submit a resume, attaching with a cover letter describing your goal in doing this internship and indicate the specific internship date);

5. The hosts will not provide any kind of allowance or subsidy. The applicant shall be responsible for their own expense on travelling cost and other necessary cost.

Application materials should be sent to both e-mail addresses below:

yintong@bjac.org.cn

Visa information

Interns will need to obtain a Business (F class) visa for an internship at BAC
-You will need an invitation from the BAC when applying for a visa.
-Generally it takes 4 full working days to process a visa application. In some circumstances a visa can be expedited and issued within 1 day for an additional fee.
-For extension within China, allow at least 5 business days, visas cannot be expedited within China.
-Upon arrival to Beijing, foreigners must register with the local police station.
Below is an example from the New York consulate. Other consulates may have different requirements; interns should apply to the consulate closest to them.

Visa Requirements

1. One completely filled out Visa Application Form for the P.R. China (Q-2007) .no item should be blank or alterd.
2. One recently taken 2X2 in. photo showing entire face and without a hat on. Please affix the photo to the application form.
3. Original passport with at least 2 blank visa pages and valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of application.
4. Former business visa (F-visa) records (if any, together with their copies).
5. Visa conformation letter from an economic and trade bureau or a foreign affairs office of the provincial or municipal government.
6. U.S. citizen may apply for a single, double-entry visa valid for 3 months or a multiple-entry F-visa valid for 12 months.  A letter from the Chinese counterpart or foreign employee is required, stating that he or she will visit China frequently and need a multi-entry visa; Original passport should be valid at least 18 months beyond the date of application for those who apply for 12 months visa.
7. An applicant born in China who is applying for a Chinese visa with new foreign passport is required to submit his or her Chinese passport or last foreign passport.
8. Non-US citizens shall provide documents valid for at least 6 months that entitle them to reside for an extended period of time in the US , Such as a Green card, work or study visa (together with their copies). Temporary visitors to the US should apply for a Chinese visa in their own country. For the special case, the visa officer has the rights to make the final decision on whether issuing a visa or not.
 9. Other files consuls request. 
Reminder: No visa application can be done through mail, email, internet, or any express delivery service such as UPS, FedEx, etc. Visa application should be submitted and picked up by the applicant or someone else entrusted.

Basic life in Beijing

Housing

-Interns will need to arrange their own accommodation for their stay in Beijing. Some useful resources for housing in English are included below. It may be particularly helpful to find share accommodation with English/Chinese speaking roommates and accommodation close to a subway station if possible.
-The BAC is located in the Central Business District in the Southeast of central Beijing (see information on location below). For housing closer to the BAC, focus your search on the Chaoyang area.
-Know that many apartments look to find tenants for long term (one year) leases, so it is best to target your search to short-term leases and sublets. While many of the websites below post information in English, you will be able to access a great deal more listing by searching on Chinese websites and being in touch with landlords and agents who may not speak English.

www.craigslist.org
http://www.thebeijinger.com/
http://english.homeinns.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=203641&p=irol-homeProfile
http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/classifieds/housing/housing-for-rent/
http://beijing.locanto.cn/flatshares-rooms-for-rent/302/
http://world.hihomechina.com/

Location

-The BAC is easily accessible, located on the 16th Floor of the China Merchants Tower (Zhao Shang Ju Da Sha) at the southeast corner of the Third Ring Road and Jianguomen Ave, near the Guomao subway station. Additionally, there are a number of bus stops nearby.
-By Subway: The BAC is located at the Guomao subway station, which is connected to Line 10 and Line 1. Directions to the BAC from the Guomao subway station:

• From Line 1, come out of the Southeast exit; there will be signs pointing towards the China Merchants Tower
• From Line 10, come out of Exit G (the Northeast exit), and cross the street south to the China Merchants Tower.

For a map of BAC please see http://www.bjac.org.cn/page/contact.html

For Beijing Subway map please see http://bbs.bato.cn/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=436062

Health

- Numbers of Hospitals are easily accessible around the BAC. You are able to get medical assistance in the following public hospitals (passport is needed):

-Pay attention to make appointment beforehand since Beijing's hospitals are always full packed. Also, describe your symptoms with discretion at the registration stage.
-Pharmacies are available for smaller problems.
-More information are available on http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/hospital.htm

Telecommunications

-If the international function is off your cell-phone's service package, you can purchase a local SIM card\in the street stores.
-Three main telecom service providers in Beijing are China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.

Language

-If interns are interested in learning or improving their Chinese while at BAC, there are a many private tutors available, a good resource to find a tutor is www.thebeijinger.com.
-Besides, interns can learn Chinese by themselves on line:
http://www.bjchinese.bjedu.cn/chinese/online/index.jsp

Internship in BAC
Working environment
- The staff of BAC is rigorous, efficient, and friendly. Interaction is always encouraged in working.
-Proper attire for the BAC is business-casual.

Reading for an Introduction to the BAC and Arbitration and Mediation in China

-BAC will open the library to interns, and interns are encouraged to read materials about the arbitration in China. More references and free resources can be found in public libraries, such as the National Library and the Capital Library.

-Recommended Reading

1) Hongsong Wang, The Practice of Concepts and principles of Modern Commercial arbitration in China: Using the Amendments of Arbitration Rules of the Beijing Arbitration Commission as an Example, China Construction Law Review,Vol. 1, 2010.
2) Fuyong Chen, Striving for, independence competence independence and fairness: A case study of the Beijing Arbitration Commission, (2007) 18(3) The American Review of International Arbitration 313.
3) Peter Thorp, The PRC Arbitration Law: Problems and Prospects for amendment, (2007) 24(6) Journal of International Arbitration 607.
4) Mark Lin, Supreme People's Court rules on PRC arbitration issues, (2007) 24(6) Journal of International Arbitration 597.
5) Graeme Johnston, Bridging the Gap between Western and Chinese Arbitration Systems, (2007) 24(6) Journal of International Arbitration 565.
6) Kathryn Sanger, Beatriz Segorbe and Jill Niu, Arbitration in Greater China: Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, (2007) 24(6) Journal of International Arbitration 651.
7) Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler and Fran Kun, Integrating mediation into arbitration: Why it works in China, (2008) 24(2) Journal of International Arbitration 479.
8) Pei Cao, The Origins of mediation in traditional China, (1999) Dispute Resolution Journal.

The content of internship

-Past interns and their achievements: some of the interns concentrated on the comparison of Arbitration & Mediation in China and Arbitration & Mediation in other countries; some researched how case managers played the role in the process; some spent more time on attending hearings.
-Interns will make presentations to show their achievements in the intern salon.
-BAC's intern model is flexible and open. We always encourage diversity and innovation, and hope interns efficiently use the time and resources to enrich themselves.

Resources BAC provides

-Interns have the chance to know each step of the arbitral procedure in BAC, and understand how the staffs assist with case management, including administration of procedural matters.
-During an internship, students are encouraged to conduct an independent research project and write an article to submit to Arbitration in Beijing for possible publication. Before arriving at BAC or at the beginning of the internship, the interns could discuss with BAC any potential research topics that they would like to pursue. Arbitration in Beijing is a quarterly academic journal sponsored by BAC with articles in both English and Chinese.
-BAC holds seminars or international conferences, as well as monthly training sessions for arbitrators, and interns are welcome to attend. Interns may also have the opportunity to communicate with BAC's arbitrators.

Entertainment for Interns

-Every Tuesday is BAC sports night; bring your sports clothing. Additionally, members of the BAC office staff plays ping pong at noon and interns are invited to participate in.
-There is a cafeteria located next to the BAC with student friendly prices along with many other options nearby for lunch. There is also a diverse variety of places in Beijing to eat at night and on weekends with low prices. http://www.dianping.com/beijing

Beijing Attractions

There is a lot to see and do on weekends. Beijing has exciting local culture that interns will experience during their time at BAC. Beijing has some of China's most popular attractions including the Great wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Ming tombs, numerous museums and many places for shopping. Additionally there are several major train stations in Beijing easily allowing weekend trips to cities such as Tianjin, Xi'an, Shanghai and more.
http://www.tour-beijing.com/top_10_must_see_attractions_in_beijing/
http://www.beijingtrip.com/attractions/