2014 Jones Day International Legal Fellowship winners take a group photo with attorneys from Jones Day, an American global law firm, at the ceremony held in Shanghai on Tuesday. [Provided to China Daily]

Jones Day, a global law firm founded in the United States, awarded 12 Chinese students majoring in law a total of $40,000 in scholarships.

The Jones Day International Legal Fellowship is an annual merit-based scholarship open to graduate students and college juniors attending selected universities in Beijing and Shanghai. This year's awards were presented on Wednesday in Beijing.

Fellowship applicants are judged by the law firm's selection committee based on communication, interpersonal and writing abilities, skills needed by lawyers.

"We continue to be impressed by the caliber of students we've had the opportunity to meet through the Jones Day International Legal Fellowship," said Peter Wang, partner-in-charge of Jones Day Shanghai.

Since 2001, Jones Day has granted approximately $415,000 to 171 students from 17 universities who show excellence in their academics and law-related practice. The fellowship program corresponds to the firm's growth strategy, which is identifying and nurturing promising lawyers.

"The Jones Day International Legal Fellowship represents our ongoing commitment to China and reflects our desire to help nurture China's next generation of legal talent," said John Kao, partner-in-charge of Jones Day Beijing.

Aside from the scholarship, winners will receive certificates and internship opportunities from Jones Day.

One of this year's winners, Ying Li, will start her summer internship at Jones Day in Beijing next month.

"The Jones Day Legal Fellowship is known to be the most competitive scholarship for law students," said Ying Li of Peking University School of Transnational Law. "It is a great honor to be among this year's recipients."

According to Jones Day's Beijing office, an associate currently with the firm was a fellowship recipient in 2011. Also, several winners have joined Jones Day as legal assistants.

Apart from the Jones Day International Legal Fellowship program, the Jones Day Foundation, a non-profit organization funded by donations from the firm's attorneys and staff, established the Peking University-Jones Day Institute for Globalization and Rule of Law. They donated $1.67 million to Peking University Law School to further the study of law.

"With four offices in Greater China, and a substantial presence throughout Asia, the Jones Day Institute reflects the particular sense of pride, community and duty our Beijing office shares with its host city," Kao said.