JIANG YULING ( REGENT'S PARK COLLEGE 2025 - 2026)
As an amateur novelist, I know very well what most readers want to see: not profound life lessons or boring logical deductions, but sincere affections between characters. This is largely determined by the strong need of human beings for love and social belonging, which not only influences our literary aesthetics, but also plays a role in social governance. Therefore, while laws are based on principles of reason, logic, and impartiality, I am more concerned about how the legal system interacts with those irrational factors in real society, such as emotions, intimacy, and social relations.
During my undergraduate years at CUPL, studying Law and Criminal Investigation Science, I became aware of the impact of interpersonal relationships on the criminal justice system. When I worked on my thesis about restorative justice, I discovered that many victims of domestic violence choose to reconcile with the abusers because they believe that repairing family relationships is more important than retribution. And in my research project on the reliability of expert opinions, I unexpectedly discovered that many forensic experts are reluctant to question the opinions of other experts because they do not want to offend their peers. Based on these discoveries, I have decided to explore laws in concrete social relations, especially drawing attention to the interactions between criminal justice and family ethics.
Since I participated in the summer program held by Oxford Law in 2022, I have known that Oxford is unparalleled in terms of criminal law and family law studies. As an MJur candidate, I expect to take courses like Regulating Relationships: Violence and Intimacy and study under renowned Oxford experts like Professor Jonathan Herring and Professor Shazia Choudhry. After graduation, I plan to apply for a DPhil degree as well to continue my legal-socio research, before returning to China to work as a legal scholar.
The Trust’s influence on me continues throughout my college studies. As early as my sophomore year, I received guidance from several Paterson Scholars, which gave me a clearer understanding of the legal profession and encouraged me to pursue a master’s degree at Oxford. Now I am honored to receive the Paterson Scholarship that allows me to explore legal issues without financial burdens and become a member of the Paterson community. Therefore, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Paterson and all the staff of the Trust, and I will also pass on the goodwill of the Paterson community and do my best to help younger law students in the future.
During my undergraduate years at CUPL, studying Law and Criminal Investigation Science, I became aware of the impact of interpersonal relationships on the criminal justice system. When I worked on my thesis about restorative justice, I discovered that many victims of domestic violence choose to reconcile with the abusers because they believe that repairing family relationships is more important than retribution. And in my research project on the reliability of expert opinions, I unexpectedly discovered that many forensic experts are reluctant to question the opinions of other experts because they do not want to offend their peers. Based on these discoveries, I have decided to explore laws in concrete social relations, especially drawing attention to the interactions between criminal justice and family ethics.
Since I participated in the summer program held by Oxford Law in 2022, I have known that Oxford is unparalleled in terms of criminal law and family law studies. As an MJur candidate, I expect to take courses like Regulating Relationships: Violence and Intimacy and study under renowned Oxford experts like Professor Jonathan Herring and Professor Shazia Choudhry. After graduation, I plan to apply for a DPhil degree as well to continue my legal-socio research, before returning to China to work as a legal scholar.
The Trust’s influence on me continues throughout my college studies. As early as my sophomore year, I received guidance from several Paterson Scholars, which gave me a clearer understanding of the legal profession and encouraged me to pursue a master’s degree at Oxford. Now I am honored to receive the Paterson Scholarship that allows me to explore legal issues without financial burdens and become a member of the Paterson community. Therefore, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Paterson and all the staff of the Trust, and I will also pass on the goodwill of the Paterson community and do my best to help younger law students in the future.