Livestreams, videos 'demystify' the law, raise public awareness

As she juggles her caseload, lawyer Wang Wanqiong has added a new brief to her weekly routine — hosting livestream sessions that delve into the legal intricacies of current social events with her audience.

On Aug 23, Wang, from Sichuan province, took to her WeChat livestream to unravel the legalities surrounding cross-border telecom fraud. In the past, she has used her platform to shed light on labor laws and anti-discrimination policies, highlighting companies that offer job opportunities for former convicts.

"Leveraging videos and livestreams to demystify the law and address people's legal inquiries is inevitable in this fast-paced digital era," said Wang, a criminal law specialist at the Baijus Law Firm. "It's also a social responsibility for those in the legal profession."

Wang is not alone. A report released early this year by Douyin, a popular Chinese short-video sharing and livestreaming platform, showed that the number of legal content creators on the platform had soared past 200,000. Those involved included lawyers, law professors and law enthusiasts, with their number steadily climbing.

The appetite for legal content is also on the rise. In December 2024, monthly views of legal content increased by over 20 percent compared with June of that year. Certified law firms witnessed an impressive 83 percent growth in viewership, according to the report.

Li Ya, a lawyer at Beijing Zhongwen Law Firm, is navigating this new avenue for providing legal services. "The increasingly rich legal content indicates that the public's legal awareness has improved," he said.

However, he expressed concern about those who chase online fame by sensationalizing case details, fabricating facts and breaching litigants' privacy during livestreams.

"These practices compromise the integrity of the legal profession and present serious ethical and legal challenges," he said, calling for stricter regulation and oversight of legal content in live-streams and videos.

Legal education trend

Over the past year, Wang has hosted over 60 livestreams, sometimes drawing more than 6,000 viewers at once.

"The internet has revolutionized how knowledge is shared, turning online legal education into a growing trend," she said. "This method not only meets the public's increasing demand for legal services but also pushes legal professionals like me to stay informed, think critically, and engage in research."

She creates short videos that break down provisions and criminal procedures, such as advising on the steps to take if a family member is questioned by the police, making the law more accessible and understandable for a wider audience.

On July 18, for instance, she uploaded two videos on her WeChat channel, each under eight minutes long, illustrating what constitutes justifiable defense using a real criminal case from Shaanxi province. These videos have amassed over 1.37 million views, with more than 6,600 thumbs-up and nearly 4,000 likes.

Yi Yi, a founding partner of Beijing Jiali Law Firm, also uses real cases to discuss marriage and family law on Kuaishou, another popular video platform, where she has nearly 600,000 followers.

During her livestreams and videos, she avoids complex legal issues and jargon, opting instead to address matters that resonate with her audience. By using case studies, without detailing those involved, she delivers clear and focused legal insights while promoting values such as trust, equality, love, and happiness in marriage.

In Wang's opinion, using everyday language and real-life examples helps bridge the gap between legal professionals and the public, making legal education more practical and effective.