Huatai Criminal Law Professional Committee Successfully Hosts Training Event

On September 24, 2024, the Huatai Criminal Law Professional Committee successfully held a criminal law seminar and discussion at the Huatai Lecture Hall 511, located in the Beijing office of Huatai Law Firm (hereinafter referred to as the Headquarters), focusing on exchanging experiences related to criminal practice risks faced by young and trainee lawyers. Attendees included Liu Xuekui (Director of the Criminal Law Professional Committee), Liu Zhendong (Vice Director of the Criminal Committee), Deng Pei (Vice Director of the Criminal Committee), Zhang Jiancheng (Vice Director of the Criminal Committee), Secretary-General Wang Wenjie (Secretary-General of the Criminal Committee), and Vice Secretary-General Wang Lisha. Many young and trainee lawyers from the headquarters, along with lawyers from branch offices, participated both in person and online.

The meeting was chaired by Secretary-General Wang Wenjie, who first provided an overview of the principles and objectives behind the establishment of the Criminal Law Committee, as well as its planned tasks and work arrangements. He also emphasized the critical importance of criminal cases in all areas of legal practice. Following this, he introduced the theme of the symposium: "How Young Lawyers Can Navigate the Path to Becoming Million-Dollar Criminal Defense Experts—A Guide to Protecting Yourself and Avoiding Risks When Handling Criminal Cases, Alongside a Platform for Sharing Experiences and Best Practices to Stay Clear of Crossing the Criminal Red Line."

Deputy Director Zhang Jiancheng discussed the numerous risks lawyers may encounter when handling criminal cases and offered guidance on how to protect themselves. He explained that criminal defense practice inherently carries the potential for adverse consequences—ranging from personal harm and financial loss to damage to one's professional reputation—and analyzed these risks across four key areas: 1. The lawyer’s own violations of laws or ethical standards, as well as instances of improper professional conduct; 2. Uncertain risks posed by clients and their families; 3. Clear conflicts of interest involving opposing parties and their relatives; 4. Potential threats originating from prosecutors, investigators, and judges involved in the criminal proceedings. He then provided practical advice on how to mitigate these risks at various stages of a case, offering detailed insights into critical aspects such as initial client engagement, interactions with all parties involved, meeting with clients, and courtroom proceedings. Additionally, drawing from judicial statistics, Deputy Director Zhang highlighted that criminal defense attorneys frequently face charges related to offenses like dangerous driving, bribery, fraud, destruction or falsification of evidence, obstruction of justice, and harboring criminals. To underscore the seriousness of these issues, he shared a cautionary example: In 2006, a lawyer surnamed Xue was found guilty of violating professional boundaries while handling a criminal case, ultimately leading to his transformation from defender to defendant. Concluding his remarks, Deputy Director Zhang urged young lawyers to "think carefully, ask plenty of questions, and always maintain a sense of awe and respect for the law." He emphasized that experience in criminal defense is honed over time, stressing the importance of avoiding haste and approaching each case with patience and diligence.

Secretary-General Wang Wenjie, drawing from Attorney Zhang Jiancheng’s presentation materials and his own case-handling experience, delved into the question of whether criminal case files can be accessed by the当事人 (parties involved) and their families—and if so, under what circumstances. He raised thought-provoking questions about who should be allowed to review these documents, encouraging attendees to reflect deeply on the issue. He further clarified that during the investigation and prosecution review stages, criminal case files are classified as confidential documents and must never be disclosed to anyone. However, during the trial phase, the files may be shared with the defendant for verification and confirmation purposes. After the court hearing concludes, the files can eventually be made public—provided they do not involve sensitive personal information, commercial secrets, or cases explicitly marked as "Top Secret." Criminal cases are among the most common types of legal matters handled in practice. Throughout the process of managing such cases, it is crucial for lawyers to proactively mitigate their own risks while actively emphasizing the vital role of attorney involvement. Finally, Director Liu Xuekui was invited to share insights on how aspiring lawyers can build successful practices worth millions, stressing the importance of taking initiative, actively pursuing cases, and cultivating new sources of legal business right on the spot.

Director Liu Xuekui pointed out that lawyers must first cultivate self-confidence and a sense of dignity, shaping their own mindset—after all, lawyers inherently belong to the elite class. Only by embracing their professional superiority and a strong sense of mission can they achieve greater career advancement, secure higher earnings, and ultimately become million-dollar lawyers sooner rather than later. At the same time, lawyers operate in the service industry. In criminal cases, clients often find themselves lost and uncertain about their next steps. Here, lawyers serve as both guiding beacons and compassionate psychological counselors, helping clients navigate their emotional turmoil. By leveraging their high emotional intelligence, lawyers not only foster effective communication with their clients, earning their trust, but also maintain close relationships and open lines of dialogue with prosecutors, investigators, and judges. This fosters mutual understanding and empathy between legal professionals and clients, paving the way for successful case outcomes. Drawing from his own experience handling numerous cases in recent years, Director Liu emphasized that when it comes to crafting defense strategies aimed at securing lighter sentences, effective communication has been key. Through skillful negotiation, he has managed to secure sentencing recommendations from prosecutors that were significantly more lenient than the charges initially proposed—ultimately leading to outcomes that satisfied all parties involved: the client, the prosecution, the defense, the court, and even society at large. Moreover, lawyers should view each other not merely as competitors, but as partners who can collaborate, uplift one another, and work seamlessly together. After all, many complex cases require collective wisdom and teamwork. It is precisely this spirit of unity, cooperation, and shared growth among criminal law committee members that drives the group forward, enabling them to tackle even the most challenging cases with confidence and success.

As Director Liu Xuekui shared his personal case-handling experiences, enhancing lawyers' professional ethics, elevating the legal profession, and strengthening the development of the Criminal Law Committee, combined with Deputy Director Zhang Jiancheng's insights on risk management and prevention, the young lawyers attending the event gained valuable knowledge. After the session, they actively participated in discussions, boosting their confidence. Meanwhile, the Criminal Law Committee’s WeChat group also saw lively exchanges, as everyone worked together to safeguard their rights and ensure their safety—collaborating closely to join the ranks of million-member law firms. Looking ahead, the Criminal Law Committee announced that it will organize more offline and online platforms for exchanging expertise and best practices, inviting seasoned lawyers to actively contribute their wisdom and ideas. This initiative aims to further strengthen Huatai’s cohesion, build the firm’s renowned brand in criminal cases, and advance its journey toward专业化 (professionalization) and branding excellence.