Tongfang Dynamics | Theoretical Seminar on “The Legal Profession in the Context of Chinese-style Modernization” and the Launching Ceremony of the Major Academic Project “50 Years of Chinese Lawyers (1979–2029)” Held in Beijing
Tongfang Dynamics
2024-12-23
Modernization of the Chinese-style lawyer system
Practical logic, theoretical logic, and historical logic
On December 19, 1979, the Ministry of Justice issued the “Notice on Lawyers’ Work,” restoring the lawyers’ system and resuming lawyers’ practice. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the restoration and reconstruction of China’s lawyers’ system. The event is hosted by the School of Law at Beijing University of Technology and Zhonglian Law Firm, with the Beijing office of Zhonglian Law Firm serving as the organizer. Theoretical Seminar on “The Legal Profession in the Context of Chinese-style Modernization” and Launch Ceremony for the Major Academic Project “Fifty Years of Chinese Lawyers (1979–2029)” Held in Beijing.
More than 350 experts, scholars, and lawyer colleagues from across the country attended the seminar. Participants jointly reviewed and summarized the development journey of Chinese lawyers, exchanged and shared experiences in the development of the Chinese legal profession, analyzed and assessed trends in the evolution of the Chinese legal profession, and earnestly explored the practical, theoretical, and historical logic underlying the modernization of the Chinese-style legal system.
In the opening segment, Han Xiutao, Professor at the School of Law, Beijing University of Technology, Doctoral Supervisor, and Dean of the Law School. It was mentioned that today’s theoretical seminar is themed around historical reflection. History is created by people, and the history of China’s legal profession has been shaped by countless senior lawyer colleagues who came before us. He then introduced one by one the distinguished senior colleagues attending the meeting—Tian Wenchang, Zhu Shuying, Xu Jian, Song Jianzhong, Li Chun, Chen Zhen, Xiao Wei, Yang Jiajun, Han Deyun, Xu Guojian, Zhao Liming, Zhang Jingzhong, Yu Junfu, Sun Gang, Babu, Linghu Xingzhong, and Yang Xingquan—and proposed that everyone in the room rise to their feet and offer them a warm round of applause as a heartfelt tribute.
Ma Xiaolong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice Dean of the School of Law at Beijing University of Technology, and Executive Dean of the Law School. During the opening remarks, the host pointed out that from 1979 to 2029, China’s lawyer system will soon celebrate its half-century milestone, having witnessed the remarkable journey of building a country ruled by law. Since the restoration and reconstruction of China’s lawyer system, the legal profession has grown from nothing to something and from small to large, playing an increasingly important role in the great endeavor of building a socialist rule-of-law system with Chinese characteristics and constructing a socialist country under the rule of law. Today, as we gather here together, it is not only a time for reflection and summarization, but also an occasion for looking ahead and envisioning the future—jointly exploring the mission and responsibilities of China’s legal profession in the new era.
Han Bing, Deputy Director of the Haidian District Justice Bureau of Beijing and Secretary of the Party Committee of the district’s legal profession. In his speech, he stated that from a historical perspective, studying the work of lawyers is of great significance. We must persist in seamlessly integrating historical perspectives with contemporary concerns, thereby providing valuable insights for addressing current challenges. The development of the legal profession fully reflects the achievements made in China’s rule-of-law advancement. By examining the 50-year journey of China’s legal profession through a historical lens, we can gain important reference points for further systematizing the major accomplishments made over the past five decades in building China’s rule of law. With the widespread application of modern information technologies such as artificial intelligence, the legal profession has become a crucial platform for pooling various resources. The strong support from all sectors for the legal services industry, coupled with the continuous improvement of relevant laws and regulations, has provided solid backing for the development of the legal profession. In the future, the Haidian District Justice Bureau will continue to intensify its policy support and effectively promote the reform and development of the legal profession.
Li Shouping, Dean of the School of Law at Beijing University of Technology, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor In his address, he emphasized that since the restoration and reconstruction of the lawyer system in 1979, China’s legal profession has been closely aligned with the development of the Party and the country, marching forward in step with the progress of the times. Chinese lawyers have made significant contributions in areas such as legislation, law enforcement, judicial administration, and social governance. Comprehensively documenting the fifty-year development of China’s legal profession is a grand, systematic academic undertaking aimed at enhancing lawyers’ professional competence and promoting the modernization of law firm management. Therefore, we must fully recognize the profound significance of studying the fifty-year evolution of China’s legal profession. The School of Law and the School of Lawyers at Beijing University of Technology will provide full support and look forward to embracing new technologies and emerging industries together with all legal professionals, jointly addressing new challenges, and making shared contributions to the building of a rule-of-law China.
Zhou Bo, Director of the National Executive Committee of Zhonglian and Director of Shanghai Zhonglian Law Firm In his speech, he reviewed the development journey of the legal profession from 1979 to the present day and emphasized the crucial role that the legal profession plays in China’s rule-of-law development. He stated that the fifty-year milestone of China’s legal profession represents a significant academic undertaking. To support this academic endeavor, he proposed providing assistance in areas such as data collection and fundraising. He noted that yesterday, the National Steering Committee of the China Lawyers Association had temporarily added an additional agenda item, deciding to provide an initial startup fund of 100,000 yuan for this project. He pointed out that today, the global wave of globalization, digitalization, and intelligentization is profoundly reshaping the ecosystem and landscape of the legal profession. All legal professionals should engage in deeper exchanges and build consensus, bringing their full professional enthusiasm, solid expertise, and unwavering faith in the rule of law to contribute their wisdom and strength to the building of a country governed by the rule of law.
Sun Xiaoying, Member of the National Steering Committee of Zhonglian and Director of the Beijing Office of Zhonglian Law Firm In his address, he stated that lawyers should possess the wisdom of a philosopher, the passion of a poet, the expertise of a legal scholar, and the perspective of a politician. Looking back on the 45-year history of the profession’s development, we see that the ranks of lawyers have continued to grow and strengthen, their areas of practice have steadily expanded, and they have gradually become a vital force driving the construction of the rule of law in China. The major academic initiative—“Fifty Years of Chinese Lawyers”—launched by Professor Han Xiutao brings together the wisdom and strength of lawyers from three generations: senior, middle-aged, and young. From both theoretical and practical perspectives, this initiative helps the legal profession establish a more comprehensive and rigorous framework for the theory of legal career development. It also continuously provides valuable empirical data and research samples for legal scholarship, thereby propelling legal theory research toward deeper and more profound advancement.
Chen Lei, Member of the National Executive Committee of the China-Association and Executive Director of the Beijing Office of Zhonglian Law Firm Hosted the introduction of the research project and the ceremony for the donation of research materials.
Wang Xiangqian, Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Law, Beijing University of Technology The representative of the project research team introduced the research objectives, plan, and anticipated outcomes of this major academic undertaking. He stated that the project aims to summarize the achievements in the development of China’s lawyer system, analyze its underlying patterns of evolution, grasp emerging trends, and establish the “three major systems” of Chinese legal scholarship on lawyers. The research plan is divided into five main components, including one comprehensive report, seven sub-reports, and ten indicator systems. The project will systematically collect extensive data, bring together colleagues from various fields, and conduct extensive field surveys and interviews. The project is expected to be completed within five years: data collection and the drafting of the research outline will be finalized by the end of 2025, and the overall research work will be substantially completed by the end of 2028. He expressed gratitude to all supporters and participants and looked forward to attracting more people to join forces in promoting the modernization of China’s lawyer system.
At the subsequent ceremony for the donation of research materials, Tian Wenchang from Beijing Jingdu Law Firm, Xu Jian from Guangdong Rongguan Law Firm, Song Jianzhong from Inner Mongolia Jianzhong Law Firm, Babu from Inner Mongolia Aide Law Firm, Jia Xiaoqing, former Secretary-General of the Anhui Provincial Lawyers Association, Tian Xuedong from Guangdong Langqian Law Firm, Chen Xikang from Guangdong Chenliang Yongju Law Firm, Su Wen from Shanghai Jianwei (Haikou) Law Firm, and Niu Zhenyu from Shanxi Guojin Law Firm. They each donated research materials from their personal collections. The School of Law at Beijing University of Technology issued a numbered donation certificate to each donor.
Donor No. 001 of the Project Research Materials: Tian Wenchang, Beijing Jingdu Law Firm He delivered an impromptu speech on behalf of all the donors. He stated that, given the Chinese legal profession’s history of just over a century and its turbulent journey thus far, the official launch of the 50-year academic research project for Chinese lawyers marks a new starting point for legal research in China and holds milestone significance for the development of the Chinese legal profession. He added that they would subsequently donate relevant academic materials in succession and fully support and participate in the research efforts to promote academic advancement in this field.
During the keynote speech session, Zhang Jingzhong, Xiao Wei, Li Chun, Hong Zuyun From a macro perspective centered on the 50-year history of Chinese lawyers, insightful speeches were delivered on topics including retrospection and outlook, history and reality, China and the world, as well as trends and the future. Chai Linlin, Member of the National Executive Committee of Zhonglian and Executive Director of the Beijing Office of Zhonglian Law Firm Host.
Zhang Jingzhong, former Vice President of the All China Lawyers Association, former President of the Zhejiang Lawyers Association, and Director of Tian Ce Law Firm in Zhejiang. He shared insights on “Fifty Years of Chinese Lawyers: A Retrospective and Outlook.” He pointed out that the Chinese legal profession has gone through five major phases—recovery, exploration, reform, golden age, and turning point—achieving remarkable results in various aspects such as institutional development, scale, and business scope. These efforts have led to historic accomplishments and transformations, ultimately shaping a lawyer system with Chinese characteristics. The number of lawyers and the size of law firms in China have grown significantly, the range of legal services has continued to expand, and the degree of internationalization has steadily increased, with lawyers actively fulfilling their social responsibilities. However, the Chinese legal profession today still faces challenges such as supply-demand imbalances, slowing income growth, disorderly competition, and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Looking ahead, it is essential to scientifically plan the number of lawyers and the positioning of law firms, address shortcomings in service quality, professionalization, and digitalization, rectify the legal services market, establish a scientific evaluation and incentive system, and promote the sustained development of the legal profession in the process of Chinese-style modernization. Finally, he quoted Wang Guozhen’s poem, “What withers is the flower, not spring itself,” to draw an analogy to the current Chinese legal market. He expressed confidence that as long as lawyers across the board respond proactively and keep striving forward, they will surely usher in a more vibrant and flourishing spring.
Xiao Wei, Founding Partner of Junhe Law Firm in Beijing He shared his insights on “The Joys and Sorrows of 50 Years of Chinese Lawyers.” Focusing on the 50-year development history of China’s legal profession, he vividly described both its joys and sorrows: emerging at the right moment and soaring high with the wind; always at the forefront, standing out uniquely; blessed with abundant opportunities and growing freely; brimming with countless practitioners, encompassing all walks of life; learning from others’ experiences and adapting foreign ideas for our own use; breaking free from conventional norms and flourishing in diverse ways; wildly popular and sweeping across the nation; following the natural course and maintaining dignity without being overly submissive or arrogant. The eight “sorrows” he identified are as follows: the eastward spread of European trends proving ill-suited to local conditions; neglected by both maternal and paternal relatives; struggling under tight financial constraints yet still bearing a proud name; pragmatic yet often losing sight of the bigger picture; dazzlingly glamorous yet earning a living on one’s knees; adhering strictly to rules while displaying extraordinary craftsmanship; overwhelmed by sheer numbers yet unable to stand alone; rising early only to arrive late. He summarized these observations vividly: First, we’ve encountered an opportunity and a golden era that comes only once every five thousand years in Chinese history. Second, we’ve been blown skyward by this powerful wind. Third, our fleeting, ethereal presence up there is indeed quite beautiful. Fourth, we’re feeling a bit dizzy from flying so high, yearning to ground ourselves again. Fifth, the earth beneath us is trembling. Sixth, despite everything, we remain steadfast—and we continue to share our journey.
Li Chun, Founding Partner of King & Wood Mallesons and Director of the King & Wood Mallesons Research Institute He shared insights on “50 Years of Chinese Lawyers: Trends and Analysis of Competitiveness.” He noted that the competitiveness of Chinese lawyers has gone through five distinct stages: a period of no competition, limited competition, orderly competition, comprehensive competition, and transformative competition. Throughout these stages, Chinese lawyers have made tremendous historical contributions in areas such as legal services, citizen employment, the building of a democratic political system in China, and China’s international cooperation and exchanges. However, the competitiveness of Chinese lawyers also harbors significant historical limitations that cannot be overlooked, and the development trend is not optimistic. The entire profession now faces unprecedented challenges. Faced with this situation, Chinese lawyers must forge a basic consensus, cherish all the 45 years of development and achievements of the Chinese legal profession, and recognize that enduring the trials of the market is an inevitable part of lawyers’ maturation. The pains of the transitional period are a crucial lesson that all Chinese lawyers need to learn. Young lawyers, in particular, must firmly uphold long-termism, professionalism, humanism, responsibility, and entrepreneurship as their core strengths. He emphasized that research into the past 50 years of Chinese lawyers is of paramount importance and urged every lawyer in the industry to pay close attention to this issue—this is not someone else’s business; it’s our own!
Zhang Jingzhong, Xiao Wei, Li Chun The speech showcased profound historical weight, carried a sense of contemporary responsibility, and brimmed with aspirations for the future, deeply moving everyone present and eliciting wave after wave of applause. Host: Chai Linlin The lawyer proposed that all attendees rise once again to express their gratitude for the insightful remarks shared by the three senior legal professionals.
Hong Zuyun, CEO of Zhihe The gentleman shared his insights on “50 Years of Chinese Lawyers: The Present, the World, and the Future.” On behalf of lawyers from the post-80s, post-90s, and post-00s generations, he paid tribute to their senior colleagues. He noted that while economic recovery is currently proving challenging and the current situation is more complex than anticipated, there lies opportunity within crisis and order amid change. We must not only recognize the adverse effects brought about by the economic slowdown but also be adept at identifying new growth drivers. Against the backdrop of oversupply and insufficient domestic demand, traditional, internally driven industry development will find it difficult to sustain long-term growth. To open up new avenues for development and explore novel growth paths, we must place great emphasis on high-quality development and technological innovation, paying particular attention to key areas such as digital governance, intellectual property protection, and enterprises’ overseas expansion—thus escaping the “Malthusian trap” facing the legal profession. In today’s wave of global expansion, we should focus on both the dual circulation strategy—both international and domestic—and the evolving needs of enterprises, making concerted efforts to overcome the challenges of entering foreign markets. He specifically highlighted that artificial intelligence is profoundly transforming the legal industry. We must reflect on how to embrace AI, yet the future direction will ultimately be shaped by the choices made by legal professionals themselves.
The meeting was organized. “Historical Review: Industry Development Patterns” and “Future Outlook: Industry Development Trends” Two roundtable discussions.
Wang Fengmei, CEO of Lvxin Society The lady moderator led the first roundtable discussion, themed “Historical Insights into Industry Development Patterns.” The discussion centered on lawyers’ profession, career, industry, sector, vocation, and entrepreneurship, jointly exploring the benefits that history has brought to the legal profession and how we can leverage historical patterns to ensure these benefits continue to thrive in the years ahead. Zhu Shuying, Founding Partner of Shanghai Jianwei Law Firm; Chen Zhen, Founder of Zhejiang Yangguang Shidai Law Firm; Zhao Liming, Director of Shaanxi Haipu Ruicheng Law Firm; Yang Xingquan, Director of Liaoning Tongfang Law Firm; Linghu Xingzhong, Director of Guizhou Hechen Law Firm; and Liu Hong, Executive Director of Inner Mongolia Jianzhong Law Firm. We shared insights around the topic mentioned above.
Zhu Shuying, founding partner of Shanghai Jianwei Law Firm The urgency and importance of introducing a dispute review mechanism at the very outset of signing new project contracts were emphasized. He called on lawyers at large to proactively embrace change and actively engage in project practice, aiming through this innovative model to effectively broaden their business channels, optimize their revenue structure, and drive higher-quality development of the legal profession.
Chen Zhen, Founder of Zhejiang Sunshine Times Law Firm Based on the firm’s categorization, the lawyer believes she is not an “industry lawyer” but rather a “sector lawyer.” The concept of “industry” is relatively broad and macroscopic. Sunshine Times has long been deeply involved in the energy sector, which can be further subdivided—from coal, oil, and electricity down to today’s nuclear and hydrogen energy. She notes that being a lawyer is a profession that requires lifelong learning—indeed, one might even say it’s a career of continuous learning and living. She feels deeply grateful to have become a lawyer, as it has afforded her the opportunity for lifelong learning.
Zhao Liming, Director of Shaanxi Hapruicheng Law Firm Point out the key considerations for lawyers practicing in the context of modernization. First, it is essential to clarify the professional positioning of lawyers—shifting from being merely state legal professionals to becoming social legal professionals and ultimately evolving into legal practitioners who hold practice licenses and serve their clients. Second, law firms must establish core values, such as integrity, innovation, leadership, and a people-centered approach. Third, law firms need to cultivate a distinctive brand culture. A brand is the crystallization of integrity, an authentic expression of genuine feelings, and the result of careful nurturing over time.
Yang Xingquan, Chairman of the Partners’ Meeting at Liaoning Tongfang Law Firm In his speech, he focused on exploring the development patterns of China’s legal profession and emphasized the importance of standardization, professionalism, and integration in law firm management. He argued that legal culture and professional ethics are of paramount significance in nurturing lawyers with a strong sense of vocation and soul. Furthermore, he proposed integrating individual lawyers’ destinies into the broader destiny of the nation and the ethnic group, placing greater emphasis on lawyers’ social status and societal contributions. Taking professionalism as the core and Party building and social responsibility as pivotal pillars, we must accelerate the enhancement of organizational strength and forge a path of development uniquely suited to Chinese lawyers.
Linghu Xingzhong, Director of Guizhou Hechen Law Firm It was pointed out that the primary task for Chinese lawyers seeking to develop is to address the survival challenges faced by lawyers—especially young lawyers. Among all the rights of lawyers, the right to survival is the most fundamental; only on this foundation can we begin to discuss the right to development. He noted that after more than 20 years of service in bar associations at both the provincial and municipal levels, the current environment is particularly unfavorable for the development of young lawyers. He believes that regional development within the legal profession is highly uneven, with enormous disparities. Therefore, He Chen decided to join Zhonglian and received approval from the competent authorities. This move is aimed at breaking through regional limitations and creating a better platform for young lawyers, enabling them to share in the benefits of nationwide regional development.
Liu Hong, Executive Director of Inner Mongolia Jianzhong Law Firm It was proposed that we not only draw on the entrepreneurial spirit, entrepreneurial approaches, and entrepreneurial courage demonstrated by Chinese lawyers over the past 50 years, but also, while keeping pace with the times and daring to forge ahead, strike a proper balance between innovation and inheritance—continuing to carry forward the essence of 50 years of Chinese legal practice and imbuing it with the new vitality of our era. He also shared his insights into the business development and brand-building experiences of regional law firms.
Yu Pengming (Dayu), Founder of Xinze Hosted the second session, themed: Industry Development Trends: Future Outlook The roundtable discussion centered on macro-level changes in the industry, the scaled-up development of law firms, opportunities and challenges presented by emerging channels, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the profession. Xie Huisheng, Director of Beijing Strategy Law Firm; Qian Peng, Director of Taihe Tai (Nanjing) Law Firm; Zhu Feng, Director of Beijing Haotian (Shanghai) Law Firm; Huang Yunyan, Senior Partner at Beijing Zhongyin Law Firm; Li Lijuanzi, Executive Director of the Management Committee of Hunan Jinzhou Law Firm; and Zhao Hongyan, Director of Shaanxi Yingjiu Law Firm, shared their insights on these topics.
Xie Huisheng, Director of Beijing Strategy Law Firm It was pointed out that the future trend is “stabilizing and improving.” Under pressure, the market is gradually becoming more rational, the influence of legal service firms is waning, new and traditional customer-acquisition methods are merging, and the industry is accelerating its natural selection process—favoring the strong and weeding out the weak. Scale-up is accelerating: large firms are getting larger, while small firms are increasing in number, and there’s a clear trend toward mergers among medium- and small-sized firms. To thrive, law firms need to simultaneously promote both scale-up and specialization. By separating business operations from management responsibilities, they can enhance organizational strength and efficiency. Among these, specialization is the key pathway to achieving both scale and sustainable development.
Qian Peng, Director of Taihe Tai (Nanjing) Law Firm It was noted that the trend toward de-elitization of lawyers continues, and younger firms tend to perform better under pressure. In the future, the scaling-up process of law firms will place greater emphasis on compliance—both for the firms themselves and their lawyers—while reducing reliance on rigid, mechanical formalism. At the business level, internal collaboration will be strengthened to develop innovative legal service products and encourage young lawyers to join forces and support one another. On the talent acquisition front, leveraging the trends toward younger demographics and firm scaling will facilitate an internal reshuffling, thereby enhancing both the quality of the firms’ services and the caliber of their talent pool.
Zhu Feng, Director of Beijing Haotian (Shanghai) Law Firm It is believed that 2024 will be both “difficult” and “highly competitive,” particularly evident in two key areas: a significant decline in clients’ ability to pay and increased risks facing lawyers in their practice. To address these challenges, it’s crucial to retain existing clients, explore new business opportunities whenever possible, and proactively monitor potential risks. Lawyers should adopt an objective and rational attitude toward the benefits and drawbacks of AI in their practice. At a minimum, lawyers need to master at least one legal AI technology, and law firms should strengthen their collaboration with legal tech companies, treating AI seriously while remaining flexible in its application.
Huang Yunyan, Senior Partner at Beijing Zhongyin Law Firm It was pointed out that, in the current environment, we must remain firm and take concrete actions toward the future—this is an essential belief foundation for creating and pioneering the future. Regarding artificial intelligence, she believes that as AI continues to develop at an ever-accelerating pace, both lawyers and law firms must proactively devote energy to learning and applying AI technologies, deeply integrating advanced technologies with various scenarios in legal practice, and fully leveraging technological tools to enhance lawyers’ professional capabilities and standards.
Li Li Juanzi, Executive Director of the Management Committee of Hunan Jinzhou Law Firm It was pointed out that the key word for Jinzhou Law Firm in 2024 is “strengthening the foundation.” The specific requirements include enhancing three core strengths: competence, vitality, and cohesion. Competence refers to elevating the firm’s professional standards; vitality means providing more opportunities and greater platforms for young lawyers; and cohesion involves optimizing the firm’s internal structure. These three strengths effectively reinforce each other, creating a healthy internal cycle.
Zhao Hongyan, Director of Shaanxi Yingjiu Law Firm It is worth noting that in recent years, the legal profession has been facing profound changes and challenges, driven by factors such as the economic climate, a surge in the number of lawyers, the shift from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market, and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. In response to these challenges, the most effective approach is for the legal profession itself to undergo timely transformation. And this transformation, in turn, requires us to engage in deep reflection on our current situation—only through such deep reflection can we achieve more effective transformation.
Wang Jinxi, Professor at China University of Political Science and Law, Doctoral Supervisor, and Director of the Research Center for Legal Studies. In his summary, he shared several reflections on the legal profession: For the first time, China’s legal profession is facing a genuine crisis—characterized by loss of market share, deteriorating procurement conditions, and market saturation. This calls for us to draw valuable lessons from the crisis. Such a crisis urgently demands that both the legal profession itself and its regulatory authorities embrace reform and innovation. Without reform, survival will become increasingly difficult; without innovation, sustainable development will be out of reach. He pointed out that the current Lawyers Law was enacted in 2007, and it has now been 17 years since its adoption. During this period, the legal profession has undergone tremendous changes, making it imperative to accelerate the legislative revision process. We must codify through legislation the major institutional measures that have promoted innovation and development in the legal profession over the past years, as well as remove or eliminate the systemic obstacles that have hindered and constrained the profession’s reform and progress. This will ensure the healthy and rapid development of the legal profession. He emphasized that the legal profession currently lacks an officially recognized evaluation system—a robust evaluation framework is a prerequisite for the internationalization of China’s legal profession. He called for greater attention to addressing the crisis of trust within industry associations, exempting bar associations from civil registration requirements, enhancing their political status, and fostering the scientific development of the legal profession.
Han Xiutao, Professor at the School of Law, Beijing University of Technology, Doctoral Supervisor, and Dean of the Law School. In concluding the meeting, I would like to once again extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the distinguished scholars, experts, and lawyer colleagues for gracing us with your presence. Regarding the Chinese Lawyers’ Fifty-Year Major Academic Research Project, he provided an overview from two perspectives: “why we are doing it” and “how we are going to do it.” He pointed out that historical philosophy teaches us that when we’re unsure about how to move forward, we can take a step back and look at our past. By examining history, we can gain a deeper understanding of the world we live in today. Chinese lawyers can draw strength from the wealth of experience and wisdom accumulated over nearly half a century, thereby finding their way forward. He emphasized that while the fifty-year study focuses on the past, its true focus lies in the present and the future. To bring this project to fruition, we must pool the collective wisdom and strength of the legal profession. The implementation approach and anticipated outcomes can be vividly summarized by the phrase: “With everyone, relying on everyone, for everyone.” “With everyone” means taking as our research subject the practices and experiences of senior colleagues in the legal community, systematically collecting and summarizing decades of institutional and practical insights. “Relying on everyone” calls for close collaboration among colleagues across the profession, each contributing their unique strengths and expertise. And “for everyone” aligns perfectly with the ultimate goal and outcomes of the project—exploring the establishment of a comprehensive database related to China’s legal system, developing an innovative body of legal scholarship specific to the legal profession, and cultivating a new generation of high-level professionals who possess both profound theoretical knowledge in legal studies and practical expertise in law firm management.
We firmly believe that the deeper and more comprehensive our understanding of the historical development of China’s lawyer system, the more profound and accurate our grasp of the underlying principles governing the development of China’s legal profession will be; the clearer and more resolute our recognition of the regularities in the genesis and evolution of a modern Chinese-style lawyer system will become; the more conscious and confident we will be in upholding and improving the path of socialist lawyer development with Chinese characteristics; and the more scientific and smooth the reform and development of China’s legal profession will be.
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