May 17, 2023

On the afternoon of May 14, 2023, the SZU Law School Alumni Homecoming Day Activity and Symposium on Cultivating Foreign-Related Legal Talent took place in Conference Room 417, Minglv Building, Lihu Campus.

Ma Wenze, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Law School, Song Xuguang, Vice Dean of the Law School, Chen Meng, representing the faculty, and Ji Tianci, Research Secretary, attended this symposium. Among the distinguished guests were Huang Hai, Partner at Llinks Law Offices (Shenzhen), Chen Yongzhu, Lawyer at Beijing Kangda Law Firm (Shenzhen), Chen Jieyi and Guo Shifang, Partners at Global Law Firm (Shenzhen), Xue Bingran, Consultant Lawyer at Global Law Firm (Shenzhen), Wang Yi, Partner at Merits & Tree Law Offices (Shenzhen), and Ling Nan, Deputy General Manager of the Legal Affairs Department at Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Shenzhen branch.

The symposium commenced with a speech by Ma, extending a warm welcome and gratitude to all the esteemed alumni for returning to their alma mater. He emphasized SZU Law School's enduring commitment to academic excellence over its four-decade history, producing highly skilled legal professionals acknowledged by various sectors. However, Ma acknowledged the need for continuous improvement, particularly in aligning curriculum with national strategies, enhancing training for foreign-related legal talent, and bridging theory with practice. He encouraged alumni to contribute valuable insights toward these goals.

Following Ma's address, Song provided an overview of SZU's efforts in cultivating foreign-related legal talent. He highlighted initiatives such as the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Justice-approved LLM Degree Program in International Arbitration, in collaboration with the Shenzhen International Arbitration Court. Additionally, the establishment of a master's degree program in compliance law, partnerships with law firms like JunZeJun Law Offices, and the introduction of a foreign-related rule of law excellence class in collaboration with China Commercial Law Firm were discussed. 

While progress has been made, Song acknowledged challenges, including cooperation with SZU College of International Studies and foreign rule of law practice departments. He expressed the school's commitment to innovation and solicited alumni input for refining talent development strategies.

Chen addressed the gap between market demand for foreign-related legal talent and the preparedness of university graduates. He advocated for increased involvement of law firms and practical departments in the training process to enhance talent efficiency.

Guest speakers offered valuable suggestions. Huang emphasized the growing demand for professionals skilled in international rules, urging enhanced language proficiency and long-term internships. Chen Jieyi stressed the importance of practical skills and knowledge of international strategies, while Wang proposed targeted talent development through specialized courses. Guo suggested practical language training methods, and Xue advocated for internships to supplement theoretical education. Chen Yongzhu emphasized the importance of instilling responsibility and resilience in legal training, and Ling Nan shared insights on efficient talent screening.

In conclusion, Ma thanked the alumni for their contributions and envisioned deeper collaboration in the future. Engaging with legal practitioners will enable SZU Law School to meet societal needs effectively and produce high-caliber graduates. A group photo marked the successful conclusion of the symposium.