Taihe: A Lawyer’s Story | Balancing Career and Life — Revisiting the Breadth, Height, Depth, and Substance of a Lawyer’s Practice

In April 2019, the article I was invited to write—“The Allure of the Profession: The Breadth, Height, Depth, and Substance of Lawyering”—was published on the Taihe official account, more than seven years ago now. At that time, I felt like an indefatigable mountaineer, my eyes alight with the rosy glow of the summit and my heart brimming with the passion for pioneering new frontiers. The boundless scope of non-litigation practice, the intellectual cross‑fertilization with some of the brightest minds, and the strategic orchestration of solutions for our clients—all these aspects drew me deeply into the “breadth, height, depth, and substance” that the legal profession bestows upon me.

Yet in the autumn of 2025, a beloved family member passed away. That nearly year-long stretch felt like a long, unrelenting night rain—so relentless that it extinguished many of the hollow illusions I had once called “accomplishments.” I tried to build a dam out of busyness, only to find that grief surged like a tide, breaking through at every moment of respite and solitude. In the face of the searing, bone‑deep pain of losing someone so dear, those former “professional temptations” seemed achingly light and shallow.

With this profound sorrow, I journeyed from the ordered world of the Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean to the transcendent realm of the Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi, and ultimately found a glimmer of light in the wisdom of the Saṃyukta-āgama. This light did not dismiss my former passions; rather, it opened a wider window, enabling me to re‑examine that “professional allure” and to discern the deeper, more balanced harmony between the legal profession and the course of life.

Re‑imagining “Breadth”: From the Boundaries of Knowledge to the Infinite Scope of the Heart

In the past, I was captivated by the “breadth” of non-litigation practice—spanning multiple industries and diverse fields of expertise—and thrilled at the prospect of continually expanding my knowledge base. Today, I’ve come to realize that true “breadth” goes beyond merely broadening one’s intellectual horizons; it also requires opening one’s mind and cultivating a more expansive, inclusive perspective.

I see, behind every client’s investment project, the vivid individuals who carry both their families’ burdens and their personal dreams. There is the anxious founder, whose unease stems not only from the terms of financing but also from the responsibility he bears toward the team he has built; there is the seasoned entrepreneur selling his business, whose inner conflict lies not merely in the valuation but in the painful decision to part with a lifetime of hard work. As our capacity for empathy grows, we develop a deeper sense of shared understanding toward others’ struggles and hardships. This genuine compassion enables us to grasp our clients’ true needs and underlying concerns with greater precision, allowing us to craft professional solutions that are both legally sound and attuned to their specific circumstances—balancing rigorous risk management with thoughtful consideration of commercial realities and practical constraints. While breadth of knowledge equips us to navigate complex transactions, the breadth of our hearts lets us look beyond the written text to see the whole, authentic person behind the deal.

Re‑encountering “Height”: From the Sense of Looking Down on All Mountains to the Awareness of the Chill at Great Heights

In the past, “height” meant walking alongside the elite, elevating my understanding through the clash of ideas, and savoring the exhilaration of seeing all mountains as small beneath me. Today, I have come to regard that “height” with a newfound sense of awe.

Every due diligence report and every legal opinion prepared by a lawyer bears not only on the success or failure of a business, but also on the livelihoods of countless individuals, the rise and fall of an entire industry, and even the small yet tangible progress of society. This “height” is no longer the condescending superiority of one who looks down upon others; rather, it is the vigilance and sense of responsibility that come from knowing that “the higher one climbs, the colder it grows.” It calls upon us to transcend the transaction itself, adopting a broader, more long‑term perspective to assess a project’s true value and its societal impact. As the Buddhist teaching of “awareness” reminds us, we must remain fully conscious that the pen in our hand—and the signature we affix—represent not merely a name, but a profound karmic responsibility.

Re‑thinking “Depth”: From Strategic Service to Insight into “Impermanence”

In the past, the “depth” I sought lay in mastering economic principles and providing clients with decision‑making and strategic guidance. Today, I have redirected that same depth to a more fundamental level—gaining insight into and responding to impermanence.

“Form is like a heap of foam, sensation like a bubble on the water, perception like a flame in the springtime, all conditioned phenomena like a banana tree, and consciousness‑based processes like an illusion.” No matter how meticulously drafted, a contract cannot withstand sudden market upheavals; no matter how successful an IPO may be, it cannot guarantee a company’s enduring vitality over the centuries. If a lawyer’s “depth” remains confined to technical expertise and formal rules, it will ultimately succumb to the impermanence of “foam” and “bubbles”—arising and vanishing in an instant, only to dissipate. True, deeper “depth” lies in whether, while safeguarding our clients against legal risks, we can also cultivate an awareness of—and readiness for—uncertainty. Can we help clients, as they pursue commercial success, build a more resilient and balanced framework—one that supports not only their enterprises but also their families and inner well‑being? It is this kind of professional depth, rooted in a profound understanding of life, that may well constitute the finest service we can offer our clients.

Re‑imagining “Depth”: From Project‑Based Accumulation to a Profound, Well‑Grounded Character

In the past, “depth” was the professional barrier forged through years of accumulated project experience, the sense of accomplishment that came with being called “Attorney Jiao.” Today, I’ve come to understand that true “depth” is the weight of one’s character—settled and refined after weathering both blazing triumphs and the darkest moments: a deeper attachment to family, warmer kindness toward colleagues, and a greater reverence for life itself.

This kind of “depth” is no longer merely the sum of items listed on a résumé; it is a composure, humility, and compassion forged through both joy and sorrow. It enables us to approach clients’ anxieties and competitors’ assertiveness with greater poise, and to remain grounded in the face of success and acclaim. It imbues our professional services with a soulful gravitas.

Today, every morning when I wake up, I still throw myself into new challenges. But what drives me forward is no longer just the “professional allure” of those days. I know that my loved ones would never want to see me wallow in sorrow; rather, they hope I will carry all my love and memories of him, living with greater clarity and composure.

The legal profession, in the end, is a lifelong journey of cultivation. It calls for not only the relentless honing of our skills, but also the inner composure and balance we need to face life’s impermanence. May we all, as we navigate the vast expanse of our careers, never lose sight of nurturing the breadth of our hearts; as we strive to scale new heights in our profession, carry with us an awareness of life’s transience; as we delve into the depths of our expertise, gain insight into the true nature of the world; and, as we accumulate the richness of experience, refine within ourselves the radiant light of compassion and wisdom.

This, then, is my new balance between career and life.

Attorney Jiao Yi

Director, Taihe (Shenzhen) Law Firm

Practice Areas: Anti-dumping and Countervailing Measures, Asset Restructuring and Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities Issuance and Listing, Asset Securitization, Corporate Compliance

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