Shaping young minds about the law

According to Huang Juan, a 32-year-old lawyer in Beijing, a lawyer's responsibilities can be divided into three parts: before, during, and after legal disputes. The "before "phase involves providing clients with advice and drafting contracts to prevent disputes; the "during" phase includes mediating disputes; and the "after" phase pertains to the litigation process. Educating the public, especially young people, falls under the "before" phase.

"The sooner young people learn about specific legal provisions, such as the three-year statute of limitations for civil law litigation, the better equipped they will be to protect their rights in the future," she said.

For young people, how legal knowledge is delivered is also important because they must first understand it, and then learn and remember it.

Meng Zixuan, 15, is a student at Beijing No 4 High School International Campus. Her favorite TV program is Legal Report, a legal column that has been airing on CCTV since 1999. She finds the program's captivating narrative full of suspense and twists. Through it, she has gained insights into criminal investigations, the legal process, and laws and regulations in daily life.

"I've learned that if there are no specified signs indicating 'compensation is required for damage', the seller cannot force you to compensate," she said.

Shen enjoys watching videos and reading posts by legal professionals like Luo Xiang, a professor at the School of Criminal Justice of China University of Political Science and Law, and Qin Ming, an author and medical examiner. Shen believes that these resources not only provide valuable learning opportunities but also enhance her critical thinking and analytical skills.

"They're both seasoned experts in their fields, so their opinions are professional and convincing. Gradually, I've been able to establish my own judgments while keeping up with social news and discussions," she said. "They're also humorous and good at telling stories, making complex and dry legal concepts engaging and easy to understand."

Huang also posts videos on her personal accounts on social media platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok), promoting legal knowledge related to the public's lives, such as marriage, property, and inheritance. She emphasizes how easily her audience can grasp the concepts she discusses.

"I would ask my family to review my drafts. If they struggle to understand the legal topics I'm explaining, I will revise them until they are easily comprehensible," she said.

However, Yang Dan, a 34-year-old lawyer in Beijing, cautioned that online legal information is not always reliable.

"As a lawyer, it's crucial to be fair and just, ensuring the best possible outcome for the client you represent. Unfortunately, some lawyers make extreme statements or provide misleading advice for online exposure, which could have irreversible consequences for individuals who trust their guidance," said Yang.

While young people are learning many aspects of the law online, much of their foundational legal knowledge still comes from home and school.