Centre for Asian Legal Studies Peer Learning Initiative (CAPLI)

The Centre for Asian Legal Studies Peer Learning Initiative (CAPLI) is a student-led project with the overarching objective of fostering direct knowledge exchange and academic collaboration between NUS Law students and partner faculties in Asian civil law jurisdictions. This initiative serves as a conduit for NUS Law students to consolidate their own understanding of Singapore’s laws, opens up pathways for students to gain knowledge of the civil law tradition and the law of specific civil law jurisdictions, and allows them to build professional networks with peers from these jurisdictions. At the same time, CAPLI provides a platform for law students from Asian civil law jurisdictions to learn more about Singaporean common law and Singapore’s legal system.

Launched in 2022 as the Centre for Asian Legal Studies – Thammasat University Faculty of Law Peer Learning Initiative (CATPLI), CAPLI has since grown from strength to strength. In 2024, a second initiative was launched, called the Centre for Asian Legal Studies – Universitas Gadjah Mada Fakultas Hukum Peer Learning Initiative (CAUPLI). Two further initiatives, called the Centre for Asian Legal Studies – Peking University School of Law (CAPPLI) and the Centre for Asian Legal Studies – Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law (CAJPLI) were launched in 2025. A special volume of The Singapore Law Review, consisting of nine articles written by students and faculty members from NUS Law and TU Law, was also published by CATPLI Writes in 2024.