Meet an LLM Student: Finley Meng | University of Michigan Law School

About Me

Name

Finley Meng

Prior Education

Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (bachelor of law, 2022); Beihang University (bachelor of arts, 2020)

Before Ann Arbor

I grew up in Jinan, Shandong Province, China.

Before My LLM Year

I worked as an environmental public interest lawyer in Beijing for two years.

My Time at Michigan Law

Why I Chose Michigan Law

I practiced environmental law in China and participated in several citizen suit cases. Michigan Law Professor Joseph Sax created the term “citizen suit” in the environmental law context, and I wrote a blog post about this for the Michigan Journal of Environmental and Administrative Law. This is where I belong.

What Makes Michigan Law Special

The Law Quad and the surrounding buildings make Michigan Law the most beautiful law school in the universe (emphasis added). I have visited many other prestigious law schools, but none can compare with Michigan Law.

My Favorite Class

Environmental Law and Policy with Professor Rothschild
Water Law with Professor Salim
International Law of Climate Change with Professor Haverkamp

What Surprised Me Most About Michigan Law

Everyone I met here is amazing. I shared many of my best moments with my LLM classmates.

If I Could Time Travel, I Would Give Myself This Advice at the Start of My LLM Year

Don’t drink the bourbon at the Phid party!

Extracurricular Activities

I served as an editor for the Michigan Journal of Environmental and Administrative Law and participated in several events hosted by the Environmental Law Society (ELS) and Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA).

Fun Stuff

Favorite Book

Woman from Shanghai: Tales of Survival from a Chinese Labor Camp by Xianhui Yang, To Live by Yu Hua, and The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt