BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Eight law students from Beijing-based universities were honored with International Legal Fellowship awards Monday, the organizer said.

    The winners of the 2009 Jones Day International Legal Fellowship awards, from five schools including Peking and Tsinghua universities, received 15,000 yuan (2,194 U.S. dollars) each as "support to their education and encouragement to their choice," the Beijing office of the Jones Day International Law Firm announced.

    The awards were based on the winners' "academic record, original thought, oral and written presentation skills in English and Chinese as well as other achievements," said the law firm.

    "We try to identify students who are truly committed to a life in the legal profession, and these young people are the cream of the crop," said Ashley Howlett, head of the Fellowship Review Panel and partner of Jones Day Beijing.

    "It is quite inspiring to receive the award," said Dong Guanyang, from the University of International Business and Economics.

    Since 2001, 116 Chinese students have won these fellowships from Jones Day, one of the world's largest law firms, with prizes totaling nearly 1.54 million yuan.