Young lawyers are the mainstay of the future, and their growth and progress directly influence the direction and quality level of the entire legal profession. To effectively strengthen the development of young lawyers at Tongfang and enhance their professional competence, as well as to guide them in taking firm steps on the path of legal practice, Tongfang Law Firm officially released the “Ten Measures for Supporting the Development of Young Lawyers (Trial)” on May 18, 2024. The document was read aloud to Tongfang’s young lawyers by Attorney Han Ying, Managing Partner of Tongfang and Director of Tongfang Free Trade Zone Branch.

The main content is as follows:
 

Develop attractive and competitive baseline fee standards, and attract more young lawyers to join Tongfang by providing support for case sources, assisting with team selection, assigning mentors, and offering guidance on career development plans. Clearly define higher entry criteria and standardize the recruitment process. Specifically target and recruit high-caliber, highly skilled professionals from industries, prosecution and judicial authorities, government agencies, and enterprises—especially those whose expertise and capabilities can significantly contribute to Tongfang’s professional development and management enhancement. Establish a targeted recruitment system, actively participate in recruitment activities at universities and colleges, strengthen cooperation with law schools at key universities, and proactively bring in high-quality graduates to join Tongfang.
 

Establish the Tongfang Young Lawyers College; strengthen and improve the organization and personnel of the Young Lawyers Development Committee, and set up specialized sub-organizations under it focusing on areas such as practice, arts, and sports. As soon as possible, establish other organizations—such as the Tongfang Youth League Committee—that can help cultivate talent, integrate resources, and boost vitality.
 

Organize the annual Tongfang Young Lawyers Training Camp; carry out activities such as young lawyers’ practical courtroom simulations, master-class lectures, “Qingfeng Night Talks” roundtable discussions, and a young lawyers’ lecturer group.
 

A dual-mentorship system is implemented for young lawyers. Through a mutual-selection process, team leaders or senior attorneys within the firm serve as professional mentors, while members of the Party Committee, the Management Committee, the Assessment Committee, and other senior partners act as ideological mentors. This system provides timely guidance to young lawyers on issues such as career planning, professional development, and value formation, helping them establish the right political orientation and values, and paving the way for their professional growth and career advancement.
 

Organize tiered training programs; support the mobility of young lawyers among different teams; provide support and guarantees for young lawyers to actively participate in professional committees and other organizations; encourage young lawyers to become professional leaders and establish specialized teams; cultivate and promote professional brands among young lawyers; encourage senior lawyers to collaborate with young lawyers on cases; support cross-team collaboration between senior and young lawyers; under the principles of fairness and quality assurance, provide young lawyers with opportunities to access public case sources; offer industry networking opportunities and high-quality platforms for publicity and promotion; invite renowned professional institutions and industry leaders to “endorse” young lawyers, providing them with additional personal publicity opportunities and enhancing their professional influence; encourage senior and young lawyers to jointly bid on projects, leveraging the senior lawyers’ track records to create favorable conditions for young lawyers to secure bidding opportunities.
 

Standardize the evaluation mechanism for young lawyers; refine the system of public construction, pro bono work, and performance-based credit points. Implement credit redemption through various means such as publicity subsidies, external training opportunities, preferential allocation of cases, recognition and reward programs, opportunities for pro bono legal services, and discounts on seat fees, thereby heavily tilting law firm resources toward young lawyers who demonstrate outstanding qualities, a proactive and upward-looking attitude, a broad perspective and sense of responsibility, and a willingness to dedicate themselves and make sacrifices.

Based on their qualifications and performance, we will build a pool of outstanding young lawyer talent within Tongfang. We will give special priority and support to these individuals in areas such as Party membership applications, promotion to partnership, involvement in law firm management, contribution to the development of the legal profession, and professional advancement, thereby providing them with more opportunities and favorable conditions for practical experience and personal growth.

Actively address the economic, career development, and psychological challenges and issues that young lawyers face during their growth phase; assist young lawyers in accessing government policy support for housing rentals and other related areas; show concern for and provide timely care and guidance to young lawyers in their daily lives.

Establish platforms to increase professional practice opportunities for young lawyers, facilitate smoother connections with social organizations such as the Federation of Industry and Commerce, trade unions, the Youth Federation, and the Women’s Federation, and help young lawyers expand their business networks and enhance their practical training opportunities.
 

The law firm allocates a special fund from its annual operating budget for the development of young lawyers and has established—while also actively replenishing through multiple channels—a fund dedicated to the development of young lawyers.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that when the youth thrive, the nation thrives; when the youth are strong, the nation is strong. In the future, Tongfang will regard the development of young lawyers as one of its key strategic priorities. With unity and concerted efforts from top to bottom, we will forge ahead together and relentlessly strive toward the realization of Tongfang’s century-long vision!