English version translated by XU Xinyuan (Wayne)

On Sept.25, 2021, Mr. LIU Yixing, the Founder and Managing Partner of LANGIND Shanghai Law Offices, was invited to attend the 6th Open Speech by Xinzelaw and delivered a keynote speech titled “the trend and reactions of law firms and lawyers in the current domestic and international context”.

The theme of this open speech is “Wait and take advantage of the current situation”. Mr. Liu and other 7 innovators of legal industry and 5 founders of legal-tech brands shared their exploration, thoughts and understanding of the legal profession with 300 guests present from the legal profession.

Chin’s Lawyer Profession Grows Wildly

At first, Mr. Liu reviewed the development model of China’s lawyer profession and analyzed its existing problems. Mr. Liu contends that the China’s lawyer profession is in wild growth in the past 40 years.

Without Scientific career planning: No feasibility report with scientific statistics can be found in the market, which means that the entrepreneurship in the lawyer profession is blind.

Without systemic career training: There is no professional lawyer academy and no official institutes for practical guidance for lawyers in China.

Without persuasive assessment system: Are those titled “National Outstanding lawyers” really outstanding? How can we evaluate a lawyer scientifically? We are eager for a persuasive and objective assessment system.

Without normative profession standards: The lawyer profession lacks complete administration and organizational structure. How big should the middle and back-office department of a law firm be? Everyone can answer the question but no one can give the right answer.

Lawyer profession is stuck at the crossroads

China’s lawyer profession has arrived at the crossroads after years of wild growth.

Where are we in this era and in which direction should we head for in the future?

Mr. Liu demonstrated his thinking from 3 aspects.

Internationalization is blue ocean. Foreign related legal service is a “big piece of cake”. Legal service market accounts for 700 billion among the total global GDP of 84.71 trillion. Seizing the foreign-related market is seizing the wind of the era, which is also the reason why LANDING has been emphasizing on internationalization since its establishment.

The Internet is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the low-price competition of OA systems can facilitate the efficiency of the legal service comprehensively but may also cut off the number of lawyers. On the other hand, the emerging Internet can not only make it easier for lawyers to acquire and connect with clients, but also bring new challenges and choices.

Transformation of operations compliant to the tax system and changes in management in the revolution of the industry are the combos for the new era.

What is the core competitivity of law firms?

In the context of the new era, what is the core competitivity of a law firm?

Mr. Liu raises the concept of 4 commons.

Common values: Humanity, sentiment and vision are the soul of a law firm.

Common operation: There is no future for the original commission system.

Common resource: professionalism and team work are the fundamental mode.

Common purposes: The basic routes are brand co-structure, product development, open market and knowledge management.

I covet the applause on the stage of global lawyers.

In the end, Mr. Liu once again mentioned it was his passion for China’s lawyer profession as well as his deep sense of family and patriotic feeldings of the country that accompanied his lawyer career and motivated him to found LANDING.

Mr. Liu contends that he is a greedy man. He covets the joy, warmth and honor shared by the team spirit. He covets the applause on the stage of global lawyers.

In just a few years, under the guidance of “Specialized Services, International Vision and Steady Development” and “full partnership”, LANDING has attracted outstanding lawyers and law firms, stepping forward firmly on the road of building a Chinese-dominated international law firm excelling in its presence and services.

I have a dream that LANDING offices spread all over the world, becoming a Chinese-dominated outstanding law firm with century-old history.