On June 6, 2020, theFirst Yingke Online Youth Forum on Criminal Defensewasco-hostedby theSchool of Juris Master of China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL),Beijing Yingke Law Firm andtheCriminal Law School, East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL),and wasjointly organized by the Yingke National Committeeof Criminal Law andtheYingke National Committeeof Criminal-Civil Law. Numerous experts inacademiccircle and practice attended the forum,including Prof. Xu Shenjian, Deanof theSchool of Juris Master of CUPL and Prof. Han Wensheng, Secretary oftheCPC Committeeof the school, Prof. Sun Wanhuai, Deanof theCriminal Law School of ECUPLand Prof. Wang Yongquan, Secretary oftheCPC Committeeof the school, Attorney Liu Weidong, Vice Chairmanof Beijing Lawyers Association and Director ofBeijing Grand Ken Law Firm, Attorney Lin Dongpin, Vice Chairmanof Shanghai Bar Association and Director of Shanghai Bohe Law Firm, Attorney Mei Xiangrong,FoundingPartner,GlobalPartner,Director andChairmanofGlobalBoard ofDirectors ofBeijingYingke Law Firm, Attorney Zhao Chunyu, Director ofthe Yingke National Committee of Criminal Law,among others.
Prof. Xu Shenjian addressed all participants at the beginning of the forum, pointing out that criminal proceduresinvolvethe freedom, property, dignity and even life of the accused, and thatadefenselawyeris a guard of human rights and a defender of the rights of defendants. Emerging lawyers of today are facing new demands and a qualified defenselawyershouldhaveboth professional ethics and expertise, demonstrating integrity as well as practical competence.
Prof. Wang Yongquan gave an overview of the current development and future ambitions of the Criminal Law School of ECUPL in his speech.
DirectorMei Xiangrong delivered a keynote speech with “online”, “criminal defense” and “youth” as keywords, pointing out that the legal profession is facing multiple pressures due to the economic impact of COVID-19, which is especially the case for young lawyers. In this context, more attention and reflections are required on how to effectively protect clients’ interests by law.
The forum consists of twosessions, with inspiring and thought-provoking discussions on ten topics.
Dialogue Session 1
In the first dialogue, Liu Chunxiao and Ge Pengqi discussed on the topictitled theImportance ofaPracticePlatform for the Capacity Building of Criminal Lawyers. They both believe that different law firms feature their unique characteristics, andgenerally speaking,nationwide or regional comprehensive law firms can help lawyers develop their professional skills more efficiently as these firms function withalarger staff headcount and number of cases.
In the second dialogue, Ren Jie and Xin Ming shared their opinions overthePathways and Myths in Professionalization of Criminal Law, advising young lawyers without clear professionalorientationto work with different types of cases in the first three years to be fully equipped with the basic skills as a lawyer, probe deeper in a few areas where their competence is demonstrated within five years and shape their professional self-positioning by the eighth year of legal practice.
In the third dialogue, Wang Siwei and Yu Jingmin explored deeply into the topic A Team Worker or a Solo Warrior, Which Is the Best for a Criminal Lawyer, concluding that teamwork is the best option for criminal lawyers given the current development of legal career.
In the fourth dialogue, Peng Yixuan and Du Ping exchanged their views on How Do Criminal Lawyers Better Express Themselves? They suggestedthat for defense lawyers, the most convincing expression, be it oral or written, should be precise, brief and clearly-targeted rather than a harangue.
In the fifth dialogue, Cheng Xiaolu and Ai Jing staged an inspiring discussion on How to Communicate Effectively with Prosecutors and Judges, suggesting that effective communication is critical for effective defense, yet communication skills may vary according to the type of case.
At the end of the first session, Attorney Liu Weidong,Vice Chairmanof Beijing Lawyers Association and Director of Beijing Grand Ken Law Firm, and Prof. Han Wensheng,Secretary oftheCPC Committee,theSchool of Juris Master of CUPL, commented on the five rounds of dialogues. Attorney Liu Weidong pointed out that for young lawyers, the right platform is not necessarily a synonym of success; the key, instead, is building up competence through practice.
Prof. Han Wensheng pointed out that young lawyers are faced with multiple pressures of life and work and therefore need strong support from law firms. Besides, as law students will emerge as young lawyers in the future, law schools are encouraged to create opportunities for students and design the syllabus accordingly with clear-cut targets in order to help the students overcome their bottlenecks and foster more talents for the legal profession.
Dialogue Session 2
In the sixth dialogue, Chen Shaojuan and Wang Yu discussed ontheMethods for Criminal Lawyers to Tap More Business Opportunities, stating that labelling, professionalization and branding are the three steps for lawyers seeking more clients.
In the seventh dialogue, Ma Jun and Zhang Qianwen focused on the topictitledHow Do Young Criminal Lawyers Broaden Their Horizons, holding that a lawyer’s career development is determined by his/her horizons. To broaden one’s horizons, the first step is to “step out of the comfort zone”; the second is “to find a good mentor” and the third is “to choose a law firm of proper scale”.
In the eighth dialogue, Hu Ruijiang and Wu Jiaxin presented a thought-provoking discussion onthe topic titledHow Should Young Criminal Lawyers Excel as Latecomers with New Technologies? Acknowledging the gap in expertise, experience, communication skills and awareness of service, young lawyers nevertheless have an advantage in the bold spirit with novelties and the readiness for execution, and may get a head start and overcome the barriers by specializing in cyber crimes or high-tech crimes.
In the ninth dialogue, Xing Zhantao and Nie Xiaodong discussed onthe topic titledRisk Prevention for Criminal Lawyers, elaborating theprofessionalrisks and strategies of circumvention in consulting reception, meeting with clientsand client feedback, etc.
In the tenth dialogue, Chang Zheng and Zhu Weiyong shared their insights onthe topic titledHow to Demonstrate Your Competitiveness in Major Criminal Cases? They suggestedthat major criminal cases are usually more than simple legal issues and require overall coordination and planning, which might be beyond the capacity of young lawyers who are less resourceful. Lacking the expertise and experience to independently handle the cases, young lawyers are advised to cooperate with veterans in major criminal cases, which would generate higher income and produce better effect.
At the end of the second session,Attorney Lin Dongpin,Vice ChairmanofShanghaiBarAssociation and Director of Shanghai Bohe Law Firm, and Prof. Sun Wanhuai,Dean oftheCriminal Law School, ECUPL, commented on each dialogue in thesession,respectively. Attorney Lin Dongpin pointed out that the scale, or size, tells much of the competitiveness ofaplatform and a good platform is helpful for young lawyers seeking better career development.
Prof. Sun Wanhuai, on the other hand, expressed his expectations on young criminal lawyers in terms of “new reality”, “professionalization” and “standardization”.
As the last item on the agenda, Attorney Zhao Chunyu, Director ofthe Yingke National Committee of Criminal Law, summarized the event in his closing remarks, sharing brief but insightful views on all the ten topics covered, namely choice of platform, professionalization, teamwork, art of expression, communication skills, businessdevelopment, broader horizons, role of technologies, risk prevention and competitivenessimprovement.
The first Yingke Online Youth Forum on Criminal Defense came to a successful end. With a thriving younger generation comes stronger rule of law. Young criminal lawyers are heirs to the wisdom and experience of the legal profession, torchbearers offairness andjustice and advocates for progress in the rule of law. The career of criminaldefenseis a journey strewn with hardships and challenges, which is to be conquered by perseverance and practice. To inherit, to develop and to explore, to sharpen the edge of respective competitiveness while being inspired and edified by one another—such is the ideal of criminal law profession.
