Justin Fabish LLS ’10 had a problem: How was he going to combine his legal education with a desire to live and work in China? His answer came in a Boren Fellowship.

“After entering law school I didn’t have a clear idea of how I would integrate my education with my desire to eventually work in China,” Fabish said. “Now that I have been awarded the fellowship, the two have coalesced, and the road has become narrower.”

Boren Fellowships provide up to $30,000 to U.S. graduate students to add an important international and language component to their education through specialization in area study, language study or increased language proficiency. Boren fellows represent various academic and professional disciplines, but all are interested in studying less commonly taught languages, such as Arabic, Swahili and Chinese.

“I’m honored and proud that the committee considered me a qualified applicant,” Fabish said. “I lived in Beijing before … and I grew to love the city. I understand how it works, and made some great friends.”

Fabish is enrolled at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, where he is studying U.S.-Chinese comparative law. He also is conducting independent research about the development of the credit system in China, specifically laws relating to the lien system and their implementation.

“I plan to develop a greater knowledge of the legal, economic, and political systems in China, their development and evolution, and how they compare to those of the U.S.,” Fabish said.

Fabish credits Loyola Law School with providing him with the necessary tools to think critically and ethically. He said that “these two aspects of [his] education have helped create skills that can be positively applied across the board in various intellectually challenging and, sometimes, emotionally-charged environments.”

After completing his graduate studies, Fabish hopes to work for the U.S. State Department.

Date Posted: Oct. 5, 2009