Director Lawyer of Liaoning Blue Star - Yu Hong

The origin of the lawyer system can be traced back to ancient Rome and even ancient Greece. The Romans developed a complex written code and litigation system, including the defense lawyer system, which has been inherited by modern Western legal systems. Modern lawyers are a specialized profession that emerged from the development of modern legal civilization, originating from the rise of commodity economy, the progress of democratic legal systems, and the need for human rights protection.

The lawyer system in our country began in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. Since the founding of New China, it has experienced significant development with the reform and opening up. The "Lawyer Law" in our country defines a lawyer as "a practitioner who has obtained a lawyer's practice certificate in accordance with the law, accepts entrustment or designation, and provides legal services to clients." The lawyer team is an important force in the construction of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and is an important part of the legal work team.

The reason why the lawyer system is a symbol of the progress of legal civilization is closely related to the responsibility of this profession to maintain the correct implementation of the law and uphold social fairness and justice. The "Lawyer Law" stipulates seven types of business that lawyers can engage in and clarifies the ways in which lawyers perform their duties. It can be said that adhering to a professional, objective, and fair stance, acting in accordance with the law and regulations, and being diligent and responsible, not only protects the legitimate rights and interests of clients but also promotes the progress of the rule of law, is the duty and characteristic of lawyers. This is not only responsible to clients but also to the law and society.

To undertake such responsibilities and missions, a lawyer must be firm and steadfast in their heart.

Today, we are talking about a lawyer from Lingyuan City in Liaoning Province, Yu Hong, a second-level lawyer, born in 1962, graduated from China University of Political Science and Law, began working as a lawyer in 1987, and became a practicing lawyer after passing the lawyer qualification exam in 1988. He is a special researcher of the Academic Committee of the Chinese Academy of Management Sciences, a member of the Chinese Law Society, a member of the Liaoning Law Society, currently serves as the director of Liaoning Blue Star Law Firm, and is the vice president of the Chaoyang Lawyer Association in Liaoning Province, a director of the Liaoning Lawyer Association, a member of the fourth and fifth sessions of the Lingyuan City Political Consultative Conference, a representative of the sixth session of the Lingyuan City People's Congress, a member of the Lingyuan City People's Congress Internal Affairs Committee, and a standing committee member of the 11th Chaoyang Political Consultative Conference. He is also a people's supervisor in Chaoyang City and a non-partisan representative in Liaoning Province. He has been awarded the title of Top Ten Lawyers in Chaoyang City for three consecutive terms and recognized as one of the Top Ten Outstanding Judicial Workers by the Chaoyang Political and Legal Committee; in 1988, he was awarded the title of Advanced Individual by the Chaoyang Municipal People's Government; in 1989, he was recognized as an Advanced Individual in National Legal Education by the Central Propaganda Department and the Ministry of Justice and awarded a third-class merit medal; in 2003, he was named one of the Top Ten Lawyers in Chaoyang City by the Chaoyang Justice Bureau; in 2008, he was again named one of the Top Ten Lawyers in Chaoyang City; in 2009, he was recognized as one of the Top Ten Outstanding Judicial Administrative Workers by the Chaoyang Political and Legal Committee; in 2011, he was named an Outstanding Lawyer in Chaoyang City; in 2016, he was appointed as an Outstanding Lawyer in Liaoning Province for the 2014-2015 period; in January 2016, he was recognized as one of the Top Ten Excellent Honest Lawyers in China in 2015 by the People's Daily "People's Livelihood Weekly" and CCTV's "Discovery Journey"; Liaoning Radio also reported on him in "Honest Liaoning"; in 2017, he was appointed as a special researcher of the Academic Committee of the Chinese Academy of Management Sciences. Yu Hong began his legal career in 1987. Reflecting on his life experiences from thirty years ago, Lawyer Yu is deeply moved. He said that the past is hard to look back on, as that journey was too bitter and tortuous. After graduation, he returned home to farm, worked as a temporary road worker, served as an armaments officer in the armed forces, and later became a legal publicity worker, thus forming an inseparable bond with the law for life.

In the 1980s, China's legal system was still not well established, and people's understanding of the law was generally low; they did not know the law, did not understand the law, and did not abide by the law. Lawyer Yu Hong believes that the law has always been intertwined with people's lives and must be taken seriously. At that time, there was a common phenomenon in rural areas where children supporting their elderly parents would naturally inherit their parents' estate. Lawyer Yu told villagers that supporting the elderly is a legal obligation of every citizen and has nothing to do with inheriting the elderly's estate. The elderly have the right to dispose of their property without any restrictions and should be protected by law. This legal education had a great impact locally, solving the long-standing issue of the relationship between supporting the elderly and inheritance. In the process of promoting legal education, he helped many people and resolved many disputes, earning the high trust of the local community. This sense of achievement further fueled his love for legal work. He said that interest leads to success, and his passion for legal work ultimately led him to embark on the path of practicing law without hesitation.

At the beginning of his practice, Lawyer Yu Hong had a meager income and did not receive support from his family; he lacked experience and did not gain the trust of clients; being young and inexperienced, he often faced doubts from relevant departments. Only he could understand the taste of this experience. He calmed his emotions and encouraged himself to persevere. The saying goes, "Adversity breeds talent," and because of this, he worked harder than others. In his spare time, he listened to professors' lectures and studied authoritative textbooks; at work, he remained humble and unashamed to ask questions. He did not care about the size of cases or the gains and losses of interests, and while learning theoretical knowledge, he also continuously honed himself in practice. "The sharpness of the sword comes from the grind, and the fragrance of the plum blossom comes from the bitter cold." After arduous efforts, he gradually became more accomplished until he could spread his wings and fly. Today's young lawyers in China may find it difficult to understand the path taken by the older generation of legal professionals and may struggle to empathize. However, it is precisely because of the persistence and dedication of the older generation of legal professionals, their efforts in the face of adversity, that the current scale of 330,000 lawyers in China has been achieved, leading to significant development and remarkable achievements in the legal profession in China.

Lawyer Yu Hong is now over fifty years old, but he is energetic and has a lively mind, being proficient in using almost all internet devices and tools. He has rich life experiences, excellent professional skills, high moral standards, and a strong sense of social responsibility. This is evident in his love and dedication to the law during interviews, as well as his boundless sympathy for the weak. Especially when handling a major mass incident, he first considered how to promptly assist the injured rather than his own safety, which moved everyone present. He integrates himself into the legal professional community, defends legal justice, pursues judicial fairness, and protects the rights of the weak, promoting the spirit of the rule of law and maintaining the dignity of the law in different ways and at different levels, showcasing a new ideological realm of a Chinese lawyer, bringing strong shock and uplifting power to people.

His resume shines brightly: he has been awarded the top ten lawyers in Chaoyang City for three consecutive terms, recognized as one of the top ten outstanding judicial workers by the Chaoyang Political and Legal Committee; in 1988, he was awarded the advanced individual by the Chaoyang Municipal Government; in 1989, he was recognized as a national advanced individual in popular legal education by the Central Propaganda Department and the Ministry of Justice, and awarded a third-class merit medal; in 2003, he was named one of the top ten lawyers in Chaoyang City by the Chaoyang Justice Bureau; in 2008, he was again named one of the top ten lawyers in Chaoyang City; in 2009, he was recognized as one of the top ten excellent judicial administrative workers by the Chaoyang Political and Legal Committee; in 2011, he was named an excellent lawyer in Chaoyang City; in 2016, he was recognized as an excellent lawyer in Liaoning Province for the years 2014-2015; in January 2016, he was named one of the top ten excellent honest lawyers in China for 2015 by the People's Daily "Minsheng Weekly", CCTV's "Discovery Journey", and was reported by Liaoning Radio and Television Station in "Integrity Liaoning"; in 2017, he was appointed as a special researcher of the Academic Committee of the Chinese Academy of Management Sciences. He was also invited by the Lingyuan City Federation of Trade Unions to serve as a lawyer for the legal aid center for workers in difficulty; appointed as a people's supervisor by the Lingyuan City People's Court and the Lingyuan City People's Procuratorate; and invited as a legal advisor by the Lingyuan City Police Association to help the police solve legal issues and protect their legitimate rights and interests. He also holds various social positions such as a member of the Chinese Law Society, a member of the Liaoning Law Society, a director of the Liaoning Lawyers Association, vice president of the Chaoyang Lawyers Association, a member of the fourth and fifth sessions of the Lingyuan City Political Consultative Conference, a representative of the sixth session of the Lingyuan City People's Congress, and a member of the Lingyuan City People's Congress Internal Affairs and Justice Committee. Various honors have poured in, and he has received continuous praise from the media. He is surrounded by countless brilliant halos, yet he treats these honors as mere spider silk, gently brushing them away. He said: "I am willing to advocate for the weak, to be a defender of the rights of the weak, to let the sunshine of justice shine across the land of China, and to contribute my life to the cause of law." His words are sincere, calm, and powerful, filled with expectations for his fellow lawyers, for Chinese lawyers, and for the future of the rule of law in China.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu appointed Dong Xuan as the magistrate of Luoyang. After a servant of Princess Huyang committed murder and hid in the princess's residence, Dong Xuan, in order to uphold the law, stopped the carriage when the princess was taking the murderer out, and executed justice on the spot. When the emperor ordered him to "kneel and apologize to the princess," Dong Xuan resolutely refused, earning him the reputation of "Strong Xiang Ling." Like Dong Xuan, Yu Hong is loyal to the national law, upholding social justice, unafraid of power, and speaks fairly.

Lawyers find it easier to gain the trust of the public. In 2007, lawyer Yu Hong was the first among local lawyers to enter the reception hall of the municipal government to address legal issues related to petitions, providing patient and detailed answers, playing a decisive role in resolving multiple group petition cases.

In July 2010, due to years of drought, the urban water supply in Lingyuan City was in crisis. The water source project initiated by the Lingyuan City government involved the vital interests of the residents of Sanjia Village in Wafangdian Township, leading to thousands of residents obstructing the drilling of the water source and clashing with the police maintaining order, resulting in injuries to several police officers and residents, and construction was hindered. After receiving instructions from the leaders of the Lingyuan Political and Legal Committee, Yu Hong immediately drove to the scene. At that time, the Sanjia Village Committee was surrounded by over a thousand agitated residents, holding various tools such as shovels, picks, fire forks, and sickles, glaring angrily.

Upon seeing Yu Hong arrive, some residents who recognized him said, "Lawyer Yu, turn your car around." This meant that in case of a conflict, he should quickly withdraw to avoid any accidents. However, Yu Hong did not turn around, allowing the residents to surround his car. "If I had moved my car at that time, it might have affected the communication and even intensified the conflict." Yu Hong did not go to the leaders on site but directly approached the residents to listen to their concerns about the drilling and coordinated with relevant departments to send three injured residents to the hospital. Seeing a lawyer standing up for them, the residents recognized Yu Hong. He took the opportunity to patiently explain the law to the residents, clarifying that water resources belong to the state and that collective economic organizations do not have ownership rights. Most residents began to cooperate with Yu Hong to explore solutions. When modifying the contract terms, Yu Hong considered the residents' needs, specifying in the contract that the living water for the residents of the water source area would be prioritized and reserving water pipeline interfaces, alleviating the residents' concerns. To successfully sign the contract, Yu Hong worked all day before returning home for dinner. The water source was successfully drilled according to plan, and after the official water supply began, the living water supply in Lingyuan City was effectively guaranteed. Years later, the local residents remain very satisfied with the contract they signed at that time. Yu Hong was also recognized as a model figure by Lingyuan City.

Yu Hong said: "Lawyers are here to serve the vulnerable groups. When vulnerable groups seek help from lawyers in times of need, I have the obligation to assist them."

Lawyer Yu is enthusiastic about public welfare, providing free legal consultations to the public through various media (TV stations, radio stations, 24-hour lawyer hotlines), earning the trust of all sectors of society. He has long served as the vice president of the Chaoyang Lawyers Association and the director of the Civil and Commercial Law Committee, and is also a member of the Chinese Law Society, a member of the Liaoning Law Society, and the vice president of the Lingyuan Law Society. He has been a legal advisor to the municipal government for many years, and these heavy titles are a full recognition of Yu Hong's work by all sectors of society.

Caring for the people, maintaining the interests of vulnerable groups, defending their rights, and upholding the fairness of the law are the principles of lawyer Yu Hong. He is also a role model for contemporary lawyers. As a defender of national law, his over 30 years of experience is the best testimony, and he hopes that more and more people like lawyer Yu Hong will care for the people, allowing more individuals to recognize the rights brought by the law and to spread positive energy!

We are in a rapidly transforming and increasingly open and diverse society. As a legal professional, one must always maintain professional integrity, uphold responsibilities and missions, and protect professional image. Standing on this land, with superb professional knowledge and skills, a firm pursuit of fairness and justice, solid professional ethics, and sufficient legal wisdom, one should promote the progress of the rule of law bit by bit. As a senior in the legal field said: a good lawyer must possess "the wisdom of a philosopher, the passion of a poet, the qualities of a legal scholar, and the stance of a politician." Lawyers should unify these qualities, passions, wisdom, and stances in every case they handle and in all their words and actions, contributing all their intelligence for their clients, for the rule of law, and for society.