At the 2026 Cornell Law School Convocation, graduates affiliated with the Zhengdao Chinese Language Association, a New York–based nonprofit organization, together with the Association’s President, Dr. Joe Sam, engaged in an extended academic exchange with three distinguished members of the Cornell Law School faculty:

Jens David Ohlin, Allan R. Tessler Dean and Professor of Law.

Muna B. Ndulo, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of International & Comparative Law; Elizabeth and Arthur Reich Director, Leo and Arvilla Berger International Legal Studies Program.

Winnie F. Taylor, Professor of Law, Cornell Law School.

The discussion traversed a series of foundational questions concerning the contemporary condition of law in an era marked by technological acceleration, geopolitical realignment, and increasing civilizational interdependence.

While the transformative implications of artificial intelligence for legal reasoning and regulatory architecture formed one dimension of the dialogue, the exchange was situated within a broader jurisprudential inquiry. Attention was directed toward the structural relationship between law and culture — specifically, the manner in which legal systems are embedded within historical memory, philosophical traditions, and normative worldviews. Law was considered not merely as an instrument of governance, but as a cultural artifact and a constitutive expression of collective identity.

The conversation further examined the evolving configuration of the global legal order. Questions were raised regarding the capacity of legal institutions to adapt to technological disruption while preserving doctrinal coherence and normative legitimacy. Comparative perspectives illuminated how divergent civilizational traditions inform approaches to institutional design, interpretive methodology, and conceptions of justice.

In this context, the responsibilities of the next generation of legal scholars and practitioners were critically assessed. Emphasis was placed on the necessity of integrating doctrinal rigor with technological literacy, comparative competence, and cross-cultural intellectual engagement.

This exchange exemplified Cornell Law School’s longstanding commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and global jurisprudential dialogue. As a leading center for international and comparative legal studies, Cornell continues to cultivate rigorous engagement with the theoretical and institutional challenges confronting the contemporary legal order.

Under the leadership of Dr. Joe Sam, the Zhengdao Chinese Language Association remains dedicated to fostering sustained dialogue between Chinese and international legal communities. In a period characterized by structural transformation and normative contestation, such engagement affirms the enduring relevance of law as both a stabilizing framework and a reflective medium through which societies articulate their values and aspirations.