Director Yu Hong of Liaoning Blue Star Law Firm

Using law as a shield to protect the rights of the people

—— Interview with Yu Hong, Director of Liaoning Blue Star Law Firm

Yu Hong, Director of Liaoning Blue Star Law Firm, second-level lawyer, outstanding lawyer in Liaoning Province, member of the Chinese Law Society, director of the Liaoning Provincial Lawyers Association, vice president of the Chaoyang City Lawyers Association, vice president of the Lingyuan City Law Society, head of the Lingyuan Tongxin Lawyer Service Team, vice president of the Liaoning Provincial Legal Advisor Association, member of the fourth and fifth sessions of the Lingyuan City Political Consultative Conference, representative of the sixth session of the Lingyuan City People's Congress, standing committee member of the eleventh session of the Chaoyang City Political Consultative Conference, and member of the Municipal People's Congress Internal Affairs and Justice Committee. Lawyer of the People's Republic of China Yearbook.

In 2007, Yu Hong was awarded the title of special guest by Liaoning Television and has been providing legal program cases for local newspapers, radio stations, and television stations for many years, sending lawyers to promote legal knowledge and deeply participating in legal publicity. Liaoning Blue Star Law Firm was rated as a civilized law firm in Chaoyang City in 2003 and was selected as an outstanding law firm in Liaoning Province by the Provincial Department of Justice in 2012-2013. In addition, the firm has trained many judges for the court and is praised as a judge training base.

From loving the profession as the only reason to become a lawyer to working diligently as a duty, Yu Hong has walked the path of a lawyer for 30 years, "to be a loyal defender of the law and a protector of the people's interests." The ambitious words of that time still echo in Yu Hong's ears, constantly reminding him to stay true to his original intention. What has passed is time, but the persistence engraved in Yu Hong's heart remains. He is a true man who is not ashamed to look up to the sky or down to the earth. Being a lawyer is not just a profession he chose, but also his faith. Along the way, Yu Hong has forged ahead through difficulties, never stopping in pursuit of his faith, and looking back, he has walked the path of justice and contributed to the country's legal process.

Years of practice, staying true to the original intention

"My love for legal work is the only reason I chose to become a lawyer." Yu Hong said this firmly when discussing why he chose the legal profession. This love has remained unchanged since childhood, when Yu Hong firmly believed he wanted to be a respected lawyer who could help the people. As he grew up, he chose to study law at China University of Political Science and Law, laying the foundation for his future legal career. After graduation, he was unable to directly enter the legal profession as he had hoped. During that time, he returned to his hometown to farm, worked as a temporary worker on the highway, and served as an armaments officer in the armed forces. However, the belief of becoming a lawyer was never extinguished. In March 1987, Yu Hong faced his inner desire and began working as a lawyer. The beginning of a career is often not as beautiful as one wishes. Initially, Yu Hong only worked as a lawyer assistant in a unit, serving the lawyer and helping out. Fortunately, during this period, he met his mentor Zhang Hongzhi, whose guidance allowed Yu Hong to grow rapidly. Zhang Hongzhi's rigorous professional attitude and highly responsible work ethic deeply influenced Yu Hong. Thanks to Zhang Hongzhi's meticulous and patient teaching, during his time as an assistant, Yu Hong gained valuable experience through repeated corrections and guidance. Yu Hong is deeply grateful for his teachings, and even after no longer being his assistant, he maintained a good mentor-student relationship and kept in touch with his family, even developing familial feelings over time. Under the guidance of his mentor, Yu Hong was determined not to stop there; his dreams constantly reminded him to strive forward. To become a true lawyer, Yu Hong diligently studied legal knowledge in his spare time and actively prepared for the national judicial examination. Hard work pays off; after a year of thorough preparation, Yu Hong passed the national judicial examination in 1988 and became a formal practicing lawyer the following year, taking the first step in his career.

Lawyer Yu Hong is being interviewed

Starting is always difficult. As a novice lawyer, Yu Hong initially did not gain the recognition and trust of clients and relevant business departments due to his youth and lack of experience. Without any assignments, Yu Hong tasted the bitterness of work, but he did not get discouraged. After correcting his attitude, he immediately examined himself and realized that his legal knowledge could not meet the needs, so he immediately immersed himself in learning. To this end, Yu Hong went to the China National Lawyers Correspondence Center to study, attended lectures by professors, read authoritative textbooks, and combined theory with practice, using knowledge accumulation to guide practical work. This effort was not in vain; when his name was first written in a judgment as the entrusted lawyer, the joy he felt was overwhelming, making it hard for him to sleep. After a brief excitement, he quickly organized his emotions and devoted himself wholeheartedly to work. Time flies, and having achieved some success, Yu Hong had new plans. In December 1992, with the approval of the Liaoning Provincial Department of Justice, Yu Hong and three other lawyers established Linghe Law Firm. To meet the social demand for lawyers, in accordance with the relevant regulations of the Ministry of Justice, Linghe Law Firm changed to a partnership system and was renamed Liaoning Blue Star Law Firm in 1995. Since its establishment, the law firm has made significant breakthroughs in criminal defense, civil and commercial agency, long-term legal consulting, and non-litigation fields, especially in administrative litigation, where it is known for safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of vulnerable groups, unafraid of power, speaking out fairly, and daring to confront challenges, receiving widespread praise from society and numerous honors.

As early as 1989, Yu Hong was awarded the title of advanced individual in national legal education by the Central Propaganda Department and the Ministry of Justice, and was awarded a third-class merit medal. Member of the Chinese Law Society, vice president of the Lingyuan City Law Society, representative of the Lingyuan City People's Congress, member of the Municipal People's Congress Internal Affairs and Justice Committee, vice president and director of the Civil and Commercial Law Committee of the Chaoyang City Lawyers Association, expert lawyer in Liaoning Province... these are all affirmations from society for his 30 years of work as a lawyer. After thirty years in the profession, Yu Hong has never been negligent and has never forgotten his original intention. "The lawyer's duty is to speak for the interests of vulnerable groups, to shout against injustice, and to strive for justice, not for personal gain," Yu Hong said. "As a lawyer, one should uphold the bottom line of the law and not resort to abnormal means due to profit motives. Some lawyers currently handle cases based solely on personal relationships through bribery, gifts, and banquets. If it is just for convenience, that would be one thing, but if it leads to interest litigation, it loses the integrity that a lawyer should have. Lawyers are legal workers in society and supervisors of public power departments, especially in the cases they handle, where lawyers themselves have supervisory responsibilities. With rights and responsibilities, lawyers should uphold their professional ethics, spread positive energy to society and relevant law enforcement departments, and should not let personal interests affect judicial fairness, betraying their profession and their own conscience." This is Yu Hong's experience after many years in the profession, as well as his expectations for the legal profession and earnest guidance for the future generation of lawyers.

Hearing and presenting evidence, daring to speak out

The development of the new era has raised higher demands for the legal profession. Yu Hong stated that being a lawyer is a sacred profession, capable of using legal skills to protect the property and personal safety of clients. Although he already has some experience, in order not to be eliminated by the continuously advancing rule of law in the country, he must strengthen his learning, improve his political and professional qualities, and accumulate strength to meet greater challenges and fulfill his mission. The lawyer system and the defense system, as the most original and fair systems, have now been introduced into the administrative law enforcement process. The state and general administrative departments now adopt hearings to solve social problems, and the introduction of procedures to publicly and directly listen to public opinions provides another platform for lawyers to showcase their strengths. Lawyers, due to their contact with people from all walks of life and their own legal knowledge, are reliable opinion providers in the hearing system. Yu Hong, due to his outstanding personal talents and solid professional qualities, is often invited to express his opinions and views at various hearings. After participating in several hearings, he remarked: "Lawyers not only need to do their jobs well but also continuously expand their knowledge, thoroughly investigate and understand social sentiments, and propose constructive development suggestions to contribute to social development."

At a hearing organized by the local people's congress and government departments regarding the taxi industry, Yu Hong proposed a constructive suggestion. He suggested that the government should not profit from administrative approval powers but should benefit the people instead. He recommended that the government actively guide laid-off workers and "black cab" drivers into the taxi industry by lowering the entry costs, allowing ordinary citizens to afford taxis and make a living, thereby enhancing their sense of gain and happiness. Yu Hong spoke out for justice, ultimately promoting the approval of this proposal that benefits the people. Afterwards, Yu Hong candidly stated, "I only consider the right and wrong of the matter and do not worry about offending anyone. I must live up to my identity as a representative of the people and play my role as a lawyer, using my profession to capture social sentiments for the local government and the local people's congress, and to fulfill my role in conveying grassroots opinions to higher authorities." This is Yu Hong, a lawyer who is unwilling to abandon his professional ethics in any situation.

Voting at the Liaoning Lawyers Association

Eagerly looking forward to jointly promoting the rule of law

Realizing the rule of law requires implementing the interests of the group, allowing them to truly experience individual fairness, and enabling those who have been treated unfairly to maintain fairness through legal and social channels, ensuring their interests are not infringed upon. This infringement refers not only to private violations but also to infringements by public authority. Since becoming a lawyer, Yu Hong has been known for his fearlessness against power. He has truly achieved fairness and justice, using the law as a standard to effectively safeguard citizens' legitimate rights and interests from any infringement.

In the process of fulfilling their duties, lawyers inevitably encounter various unfair treatments and may even face choices between their own safety and legal justice. At such times, lawyers need to make extremely calm and correct decisions. Yu Hong insists on procedural justice, using the protection of private rights and the limitation of public power as his guiding principles, and is able to consider larger patterns from a higher perspective, making choices that benefit national construction and safeguard legitimate rights.

"Lawyers not only bear the responsibility of voicing for citizens to seek fairness and justice but also carry the heavy responsibility of promoting the process of national rule of law. Legal awareness, fairness awareness, responsibility awareness, and overall awareness are all indispensable for lawyers." This summary reflects Yu Hong's life experiences and is a testament to his legal career, guiding future generations. Yu Hong is worthy of himself and the country, filled with earnest hopes for national prosperity, political clarity, smooth rule of law, and the happiness of the people.

When discussing future plans, Yu Hong said: "I am currently committed to improving the Liaoning Blue Star Law Firm through online platforms, making it a particularly influential law firm in the local area, thereby helping more vulnerable groups and effectively safeguarding their interests, addressing the shortcomings of national security. In addition, I will also call on the legal profession to actively act as social legal workers, courageously participating in law enforcement and legislative processes, providing opinions for national construction, and contributing to the advancement of the national rule of law." The country needs a group of citizens like Yu Hong who adhere to social morals and professional ethics, and society needs a legal team that genuinely serves the people and protects their rights. Yu Hong and his team are doing just that. Their steps do not stop due to any threats, and their will is not distorted by any temptations. They walk the path of legal construction, never ceasing! (Text / Lü Qingqing)