"If you write a good brief, no one really cares what you look like," said Edward Cheng, a lawyer with Hill & Barlow in Boston. "As long as you're wearing a suit."

Hill & Barlow represents The Crimson in legal matters.

The conference largely drew students interested in learning about Taiwanese society and culture. Elaina D. Lin '99 called the conference her "culturally-aware day."

Frances C. Chang '01, questioned the benefit of such a heavy emphasis on asserting Taiwanese identity.

"They're making a very clear distinction between Chinese and Taiwanese," Chang said. "It tends to be very exclusive. It pits people who are Chinese against people who are Taiwanese."

Chang said she was expecting this kind of thinking to dominate the conference and was glad that this wasn't the case.

"My opinions have changed as a result of some of what was said today," she said. "That's reassuring."