Tongfang Successfully Held the Tongfang Academy Open Lecture Titled “Criminal Hot-Topic Issues Under the New Situation and Trends and Responses in the Legal Profession”
Young Lawyers College
2023-12-29
On December 29, Tongfang Law Firm successfully held a public lecture titled “Criminal Hot Issues under the New Situation and Trends and Responses in the Legal Profession” at the New World Hotel. The lecture featured instructors Xu Zongxin and Chen Weidong. The event was chaired by lawyer Cao Yuanjun, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tongfang Law Firm, and was attended by the following guests: Ma Haitian, Vice Dean of the School of Law at Liaoning University and Deputy Director of the Liaoning Intellectual Property Institute; Song Bin, Vice President of the Liaoning Lawyers Association and President of the Benxi Lawyers Association; Hou Desheng, Vice President of the Liaoning Lawyers Association and President of the Panjin Lawyers Association; Sun Changjiang, President of the Shenyang Lawyers Association; Yang Peizheng, Senior Advisor to the Shenyang Lawyers Association (formerly President of the Shenyang Railway Transport Court); Kan Xuefei, Vice President of the Shenyang Lawyers Association; Li Yi, Vice President of the Shenyang Lawyers Association; Chen Siqi, Vice President of the Huludao Lawyers Association; Gao Jian, Director of the Criminal Law Special Committee of the Shenyang Lawyers Association—along with faculty and students from Northeastern University and Shenyang University of Technology, and nearly 200 lawyers from Shenyang and other cities—attended the event.
Speech by Tongfang Law Firm
At the meeting, Lawyer Cao Yuanjun, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tongfang Law Firm, delivered a speech on behalf of Tongfang Law Firm. He pointed out that, in the current context of rapid social development and an increasingly完善 rule-of-law framework, we not only face new challenges in the field of criminal law but also encounter new opportunities for the development of the legal profession. This open lecture aims to bring together industry elites to delve deeply into pressing issues in the criminal law arena under the new circumstances, as well as explore emerging trends in the legal profession and formulate appropriate response strategies.
As a leader in the legal services sector, Tongfang Law Firm has always been committed to providing clients with professional and efficient legal services. Through this open public lecture series offered by Tongfang Academy, we hope to create a platform for sharing knowledge and exchanging experiences, enabling all participants to jointly explore cutting-edge issues in criminal law and helping every lawyer achieve greater success on their future career path.
Teacher Xu Zongxin shares
Xu Zongxin
Lecturer Introduction
Lecturer: "Focusing on the New Situation from a Criminal Perspective"
Trends and Responses in the Legal Profession
Director of Shanghai Jingyulin Law Firm
Director of the Chinese Association for Research in Criminal Procedure Law
Distinguished Professor at East China University of Political Science and Law
Vice President of the 12th Shanghai Lawyers Association
Teacher Xu Zongxin delivered a fascinating and highly informative lecture, focusing on three main areas: the challenges encountered in criminal law practice, strategies for addressing these challenges, and future prospects for criminal law practice.
He pointed out that criminal defense lawyers play an irreplaceable and crucial role in realizing the rule of law in China. To break the deadlock, criminal lawyers need to focus on “six transformations”: shrinking the size of service units, further refining criminal defense skills, diversifying criminal practice areas, upgrading the sophistication of criminal services, stabilizing the pool of criminal talent, and turning criminal practice into a professionalized business. These “six transformations” offer new ideas and chart a new course for the development of criminal defense lawyers.
Teacher Chen Weidong shares
Chen Weidong
Lecturer Introduction
Lecturer of "Hot Issues in Criminal Justice"
Professor, School of Law, Renmin University of China
Director of the Research Center for Litigation Systems and Judicial Reform at Renmin University of China
Executive Vice President of the Chinese Association for Research in Criminal Procedure Law
Teacher Chen Weidong focused primarily on “hot topics in criminal justice,” sharing insights on such topics as “how to respond as criminal cases enter the era of minor offenses, how lawyers should adapt as the campaign against organized crime and evil forces enters a normalized phase, and an in-depth analysis of the plea-bargaining system.”
He pointed out that over the past two decades, China’s crime structure has undergone significant changes: while the number of criminal cases has increased, serious crimes have declined. As we enter an era of minor offenses, it is crucial to clearly define the criteria for minor offenses. Focusing on fundamental aspects such as the participating entities and their respective powers, the scope of cases, procedural flows at various stages of litigation, principles for lenient treatment, and the specific boundaries and ranges of such leniency, he explored the framework of the plea-bargaining system with reduced punishment. Regarding the hotly debated issues in the revision of the Criminal Procedure Law, he argued that this amendment should be grounded in the current reality while also looking toward the long term, and that meticulous legislation can in turn promote precise judicial practice. He further highlighted the urgent need to establish a system for expunging prior convictions and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of lawyers—views that provided the lawyers attending the event with a veritable feast of knowledge.
This public lecture from Tongfang Academy has built a bridge of wisdom, connecting the cutting edge of law with the essence of practical application. Through the profound legal insights and invaluable experiences shared by our two instructors, it has opened up new horizons in legal knowledge for us. This will help us better tackle challenges, seize opportunities, jointly meet legal challenges, and work together to face the future!
Looking ahead, we will carry forward our passion for the legal profession, uphold the belief that learning knows no bounds, and steadfastly broaden our horizons. We will continue to learn and absorb the most advanced knowledge and achievements, constantly surpassing ourselves and relentlessly pursuing excellence—working together to propel the legal profession toward an even brighter future!
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