More. . .

Perspectives from Yu Cheng, LLM'18

Yu Cheng

1. Describe a typical day for you at the Law School.

I prefer to cluster classes from Monday to Thursday and leave some flexibility to the rest of the week. Four days of the week, I wake up at 6 a.m., go over again readings for classes later in the day, go to class from 8:30 a.m. to noon, attend a lunch talk at the Law School or the Institute of Politics, go to Regenstein Library later in the afternoon, study till 11 p.m. and go home, and continue reading till 1 a.m. This schedule looks slightly amplified, and is even more so during exam periods, but I never found it unmanageable. There is a lot to explore in and out of school, and I suggest making the most of the precious time here. For days without classes, plenty of events are organized by the Law School or among students, like national dinners, White Sox games, and Thanksgiving dinner at Dean Badger’s home.

2. What classes have you enjoyed the most?

Constitutional Law for LLM Students, Constitutional Law II: Freedom of Speech, and Constitutional Law III: Equal Protection.

Constitutional law classes are the best chance to deepen your understanding of constitutionalism as an integral part of a civil religion in United States. Getting to start with Constitutional Law for LLM Students is a great way to grasp the whole picture, primary issues such as federalism, separation of powers, and landmark cases. Ramping up with freedom of speech and equal protection, the experience of studying constitutional law turns into the most fascinating way of discover sociological, political, and historical evolution of this huge democratic country. And reading the SCOTUS opinions has been the most wonderful practice of wrestling with my own mind and exploring for sparkling things in a mixed, singular, and luminous gloom.

3. Is there anything about the Law School that surprised you?

While I prepared myself for a solid, substantive legal education experience at this quadrangle “where fun goes to die,” UChicago still surprised me. The teaching faculty are genuinely smart, wise, and devoted, which makes the alarmingly expense of law school worth every penny. The time commitment is enormous, but it turns out that the weight and pain is exactly “where true fun lies.” Reading Scalia at 5 a.m. in the shadow cast from a desk lamp, with the world in total silence, is definitely a transcendent experience.

4. What would you recommend future LLM students do while in Chicago?

It is basically impossible to not struggle with readings and writing papers at UChicago, while trying to build deep relationships with your classmates. Admittedly, you must have an outstanding IQ, and thinking and talking skills, as everyone else here does. Try not revert on intellectual strength too much, widen your repertoire of emotions. At the Law School, there are enormous opportunities to show how smart you are, but don’t let your intelligence be an excuse to avoid handling the deepest and scariest intimacies.

5. What do you hope to take away from your LLM Law School experience?

Worldwide connections, interacting with the most-brilliant minds, and interdisciplinary classes across the Midway may be the only must-have opportunities of top law schools like Chicago. Things worth mentioning are UChicago’s world-renown, unparalleled scholarship and professionalism, maybe also a pretense of “detachment, specialization, critical thinking, aloofness, and a mythical belief in cool reasoning.” The way people adore and yearn to be wise and to be closer to truth is enchanting. When we leave Hyde Park and return to secular culture, it is so vital to remain a UChicago Law School student—something completely and passionately devoted to truth, justice, and a hunger for wisdom, which is the permanent source of great comfort and stability in a disturbing and confusing world.

6. What will you miss (and not miss) about Chicago?

Professor Driver’s triumphant whisper in class and eavesdropping on an intense argument about nucleic acid on the 172 bus in the morning.

7. What makes the LLM program at the Law School such a special experience?

I love that the relatively small size of the Law School is perfect to mingle with both JD and LLM students. I also enjoy nourishing more diversified and deeper in-class discussions and the closer friendships I have developed over the past year. Lastly, the faculty offices that circle the library guarantee that resources are always available and professors are always around to engage with students on any topic, as long as you want to commit and study.

About Yu Cheng

Education

  • The University of Chicago, LLM, ’18
  • Peking University, LLB, ’10

Career Highlights and Professional Affiliations

  • The Law School, University of Chicago (LLM) 2017-2018
  • The Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, 2016-2017
  • Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong SAR, 2013-2016
  • The Department of International Organizations and Conference, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, 2010-2013
  • Bar admission, Mainland China, 2010

Languages

  • Mandarin
  • English
  • Japanese
  • Cantonese