Zhiming Law Firm Calls for Hosting a 'Lawyers and Community' Forum to Address the Challenges of Lawyers Entering Politics in China
The lawyer community is a vital force in China's legal system, with the saying "When lawyers thrive, democracy thrives; when lawyers thrive, the nation thrives." Lawyers entering politics is a hot topic in China's legal field and an urgent expectation for building a democratic society, yet current achievements in this area are lackluster. There are approximately 140,000 practicing lawyers nationwide, with only 3,420 serving as deputies to people's congresses or members of political consultative conferences at various levels, accounting for 2.44%. In Shenzhen, a national leader in economic and political reform, there are about 5,000 lawyers, but only 40 hold such positions, representing 0.80%. It is even rarer to hear of Chinese lawyers serving as national or government leaders. Compared to Western countries where many lawyers are active in politics, Chinese lawyers seem to fall short. Where is the path for Chinese lawyers in politics? On December 6, 2008, at the Fourth China Young Lawyers Forum of the All China Lawyers Association held in Zhuhai, an answer was provided.
The forum's theme was "The Professional Spirit of Chinese Lawyers." Participants included over 300 lawyer representatives, legal and economic experts, and representatives from business and academia. Lawyer Wang Tengfeng, director of Guangdong Zhiming Law Firm, was invited to deliver a keynote speech titled "Grassroots Communities: A Vast Arena for Young Chinese Lawyers to Excel" (published on Zhiming's website under the "Community Service" section). In his speech, he cited U.S. President-elect Barack Obama as an example of grassroots communities being a cradle for young lawyer-politicians. Obama, a practicing lawyer for 12 years, began working in Chicago's black community at age 25 after college, persisting for 15 years, which gradually propelled him into politics and ultimately to the presidency. Obama's experience offers three insights for nurturing young Chinese lawyer-politicians: first, they must have lofty aspirations; second, they must choose the right path and starting point, beginning at the grassroots; third, they must persevere. Citing the 17th National Congress report's emphasis on grassroots democracy as a foundational project for socialist democratic politics, Director Wang argued that lawyers must not be absent or silent in this great endeavor. They should adapt to trends, look downward, engage deeply with communities, and participate in community democratic self-governance. China's over 80,000 urban communities represent a new platform and field for lawyers to participate in political affairs under new circumstances, offering vast opportunities for countless young lawyers to excel.
In recent years, under Director Wang Tengfeng's leadership, Zhiming Law Firm has actively participated in community legal construction. It was recognized by the Shenzhen municipal government as an advanced unit for lawyers' involvement in the "Legal Services into Communities" initiative, with two young lawyers honored as advanced individuals. The firm also strongly supports academic exploration on "Lawyers and Communities." Assistant Director Guo Tianxi's paper, "On the Significance and Pathways of Lawyers' Participation in Community Self-Governance" (published on Zhiming's website under "Community Service"), won an excellent paper award at this year's China Young Lawyers Forum, examining the topic from political, legal, cultural, and historical perspectives while detailing operational approaches. Invited to speak at the forum, Director Wang, on behalf of the firm, proposed jointly organizing a "Lawyers and Communities" forum with the national legal, academic, business, and educational communities to enhance lawyers' understanding of communities and encourage young lawyers to engage in community building, receiving positive responses from attendees.
Zhiming Office
December 6, 2008
