Reflections on the New Administrative Law: A Recap of Zhiming Litigation Art Center's Fourth Learning and Exchange Event

On the afternoon of November 7, 2014, the Zhiming Litigation Art Research Center and Zhiming Lawyers Academy organized their fourth learning and exchange event in the conference room of Zhiming Law Firm, with Attorney Zhang Yong as the keynote speaker. This event conducted a comprehensive analysis of the new Administrative Law, interpreting the significance of its amendments from multiple perspectives.

Among them, Lawyer Zhang Yong, in light of prominent conflicts in current judicial practice, enumerated several major highlights of the amendments involved in the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee from the numerous provisions of the new Administrative Law. They are as follows:

1. Include all normative documents within the jurisdiction of the Administrative Law. Added content such as "Constitution Day" and "constitutional oath."

2. Emphasize "grassroots democracy" and "industry self-discipline";

3. Emphasize that "internal decision-making by administrative organs must undergo legality review," highlighting the importance and urgency of establishing the position of internal government legal counsel.

4. Proposed the "Supreme People's Court Circuit Court" system, clarifying the trial and prosecution system for cross-regional courts.

5. Emphasize eliminating privilege-seeking mindsets and the practices of handling cases based on personal connections and relationships.

6. Guide the long-term development of social lawyers, public-sector lawyers, and corporate lawyers;

7. In litigation procedures, the "case filing review" system was changed to a "case filing registration" system, and extensive provisions were used to refine and standardize each stage of administrative litigation procedures.

Through this study, more than ten trainee lawyers and young practicing lawyers from our firm have learned a lot of new legal knowledge and practical business skills. All participants expressed that they had gained something and are looking forward to the next session of learning and exchange.