JC Master · A Lawyer’s Story | The Springtime Splendor of Jinling Fills the World; a Nonagenarian Speaks of Heritage

　　In the third month of spring in Jinling, cherry blossoms cascade like snow, and magnolias begin to bloom. With the season at its finest, I joined Chief Partner Ma Qun of JC Master Law Office and Director of the Management Committee, Attorney Li Yuanyang, on a visit to pay respects to a nonagenarian. This trip was undertaken at the behest of Attorney Xu Jian, Chairman of the China Lawyers Museum, to collect invaluable oral‑history materials for the museum.

　　Having been in the legal profession for nearly two decades, I have had the privilege of witnessing China’s legal community grow from a few hundred thousand to eight hundred thousand lawyers. This time, however, I truly settled down and sat before a nonagenarian, listening as he recounted how the very word “lawyer” has journeyed through the depths of history, passed from one generation to the next, all the way to the present day.

　　This was the most remarkable interview of my career—and also the most vivid lesson in the “Stories of JC Master Lawyers.” Director Ma Qun sat beside Elder Wang; he is one of Elder Wang’s students. This bond of mentorship, spanning half a century, stands as the most profound testament to JC Master’s commitment to its mentor‑apprentice system.

　　First Encounter: The Composure of a Nonagenarian

　　Director Ma Qun led us into Old Man Wang’s home. Born in the Year of the Horse, he is celebrating his 96th birthday this year.

　　He sat on the sofa, a potted plant standing quietly at his side. His voice was unhurried, and he recalled every detail with crystal clarity, as if the events of seventy years ago had unfolded only yesterday. That serene composure, born of a lifetime’s trials, is the confident poise forged by the passage of time—and the calm assurance honed over seven decades in the legal profession.

　　Mr. Wang was among the first generation of Class‑I lawyers in China. In his capacity as a lawyer, he served as a deputy to the Eighth National People’s Congress, a director on the first and second terms of the All‑China Lawyers Association and chair of its Non‑Litigation Law Committee, an advisor to the Jiangsu Provincial Government, and a member of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. He also took part in drafting the People’s Republic of China’s first Lawyers Law. This distinguished record encapsulates the entire evolution of China’s legal profession—from its inception to its establishment of formal norms.

　　Looking Back: 1956, Huairén Hall, Zhongnanhai

　　“That was 1956—the first national conference on the legal profession in New China,” Old Master Wang said, his gaze drifting into the distance, his thoughts seemingly carried back to that night seventy years ago.

　　At the age of 26, he entered Zhongnanhai for the first time as a representative from Jiangsu. At the entrance to Huairén Hall, President Dong Biwu and Minister Shi Liang shook hands with each attendee. He recalled that Old Man Dong was dressed in a light-gray Zhongshan suit, while Minister Shi wore a white canvas suit, both wearing warm, welcoming smiles.

　　That evening, the Wuhan Yue Opera Troupe staged “The Fan of Chen Xiang.” Premier Zhou Enlai and Comrade Deng Yingchao attended the performance and sat not far from him. He still vividly recalls seeing the Premier fully immersed in the play, laughing heartily. Meanwhile, in the Ziguangge Hall, Chairman Liu Shaoqi was hosting a banquet for foreign guests, and Madam Wang Guangmei gracefully passed by in a black cheongsam adorned with silver dots.

　　“Back then, I was young and always on the move; the staff would warn us about places we weren’t allowed to go,” Old Man Wang said, a faint smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

　　At that moment, history ceased to be the cold text of a textbook and became a vivid, burning instant witnessed firsthand by a young person.

　　Ups and Downs: From “Shutdown” to “Rebirth”

　　From 1949 to 1979, the legal profession in China endured three decades of ups and downs. Old Master Wang recounted these events one by one. His tone was calm, as if he were narrating a story long since settled into memory, yet every year and every detail remained vividly etched in his mind.

　　 The Founding Stage (1949–1955)

　　In 1949, following the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Government Administration Council of the People’s Republic of China was established (later renamed the State Council), with the Ministry of Justice under its jurisdiction; however, judicial administrative organs were organized only at the central level.

　　In 1955, the central government decided to extend judicial administrative organs down to the local level, and Jiangsu Province began preparations to establish a Department of Justice. At that time, drawing on the core personnel of the Judicial Administration Division of the Provincial People’s Court, the department was expanded into the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Justice, and Mr. Wang was fortunate enough to become one of its members.

　　Local Pilot Programs and the Emergence of the Legal Profession (1956)

　　In 1956, the People’s Republic of China began establishing a legal profession. In Jiangsu Province, judicial bureaus were set up in the four cities of Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, and Xuzhou, and legal advisory offices were formed by seconding personnel from the courts. In other regions that did not yet meet the necessary conditions, legal advisory sections were established within the courts, staffed by one or two officials who provided legal assistance as needed on a case-by-case basis, with criminal defense constituting their primary area of practice.

　　That year, the legal profession in New China took its first steps at the local level.

　　Interruption and Restoration of Work (1957–1979)

　　As the legal profession was gradually taking shape and various stakeholders were exploring ways to move forward, the lawyer system was temporarily brought to a standstill for numerous reasons; legal professionals were reassigned, and Elder Wang also left his post.

　　And so they waited—for more than twenty years.

　　From late 1978 to early 1979, the spring breeze of reform and opening-up swept across the land. The legal profession was restored and rebuilt, and Elder Wang promptly rejoined it. From that moment on, China’s legal profession embarked on the right path.

　 　Rejoining the Team and Core Personnel Training (1980)

　　In March 1980, the Ministry of Justice organized the first training course for lawyers at the Central Political and Legal Cadre School. Old Master Wang, along with many veteran lawyers, gathered from all corners to welcome the spring of the rule of law. The curriculum encompassed both ideological and political education—reafofficeing the importance of the legal profession—and fundamental legal knowledge across various disciplines, taught by renowned professors from the National People’s Congress, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and other leading political and legal institutions in Beijing.

　　In just a few months, this cohort of trainees has gained a more systematic understanding of China’s rule-of-law development and forged deep bonds of friendship.

　　After 1980, this cohort of trainees gradually returned to their respective posts, becoming the backbone of their provinces. Like seeds, they were sown across the country, taking root and sprouting in their own unique environments. As a result, the legal profession nationwide expanded rapidly.

　　They, like a spark, kindled the light of the rule of law in that era.

　　From “shutdown” to “rebirth,” more than two decades of ups and downs reflect the steadfast dedication of a generation and the storied journey of an entire industry.

　　Inheritance: A Relay of the Rule of Law Passed Down Through Generations

　　In the early days of reform and opening-up, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew advised Comrade Deng Xiaoping that China should train 200,000 lawyers and 200,000 accountants. After more than four decades of development, China’s legal profession has grown to comprise 800,000 lawyers, with legal services now extending across all sectors of society.

　　Director Ma Qun sat beside Elder Wang, listening intently to his account. This scene epitomizes the most moving chapter of the “JC Master Lawyers’ Story”—a former student, accompanied by his law office’s team, returns to his mentor to hear him recount events from seventy years ago. Teachers impart wisdom, and students carry forward their ideals—this is the finest testament to the enduring spirit of master‑disciple succession.

　　Respecting teachers and valuing the law is a tradition deeply ingrained in the very essence of Chinese lawyers. From Elder Wang to Director Ma Qun, and on to generation after generation of young lawyers at JC Master, this bond of camaraderie and sense of responsibility has been passed down through the ages, like a flame kept alight.

　　The services of lawyers have long been woven into every facet and corner of society. Generation after generation of legal professionals has carried forward this vocation, continually expanding its horizons.

　　Old Master Wang said he was born in the Year of the Horse. For this seasoned steed, old horses know the way and also discern the path ahead. He hopes that, in this Year of the Horse—a year of vigorous growth for the legal profession—this cause will forge ahead without pause, pressing forward with courage; and he also wishes all legal professionals, as they pursue the ideal of the rule of law, success beyond measure and renewed brilliance.

　　Tribute: The Pioneers Who Keep the Flame Alive

　　As the spring sunshine warmed the air, we rose to take our leave. Jingjing, the team’s photographer, gently set down her equipment, her movements imbued with respect. Director Ma Qun and Attorney Li Yuanyang stepped forward, and everyone eagerly posed for photos with Old Man Wang. Jinling’s spring arrives punctually year after year, yet some people and moments deserve to be remembered.

　　Since entering the profession, I have read inspiring stories of lawyers and witnessed the paths forged by those who came before. The word “inheritance” has never been mere rhetoric; it is the steady support one generation offers to the next, the quiet, transformative power of words and deeds, the footprints left by our predecessors, and the road blazed by those who follow.

　　Old Master Wang was a firsthand participant and witness to the development of the Chinese legal profession, as well as a leader and a key contributor. The stories he shares are not found in textbooks, yet they represent the “roots” that every legal professional ought to know. This interview was recorded in its entirety, and the resulting footage will be fully archived in the Oral History Collection of the China Lawyers Museum, ensuring that this chapter of history is not only documented but also passed down to future generations.

　　The finest tribute is to follow in the footsteps of those who came before us and go even further. May Mr. Wang enjoy good health and a long life, and may the flame of the rule of law burn ever brightly.