Recently, Wang Weining, Deputy Director of Beijing Xinglai Law Firm, was invited by the School of Law at Peking University to serve as a lecturer for the course “Practical Skills in Prosecution, Defense, and Adjudication,” and with... A criminal court judge at a certain intermediate people's court and a national expert on procuratorial work from a provincial court Together, they delivered a brilliant class to the graduate students of Peking University Law School—a class that deeply integrated theory with practice. The course was chaired by Professor Che Hao, Associate Dean of Peking University Law School, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor.

In this session, students were divided into groups and took on the roles of prosecution and defense, engaging in classroom debates based on practical cases provided by lawyers. After a lively exchange of views, Attorney Wang Weining offered professional feedback on the students’ performances from the defense perspective and, drawing on his decade of experience in criminal defense, shared key insights and approaches for navigating courtroom proceedings.

Attorney Wang first highly praised the Peking University students’ solid legal foundation and thorough pre-trial preparation. He pointed out that during the mock trial, the students demonstrated outstanding theoretical knowledge and argumentation skills, particularly excelling in areas such as the application of evidentiary structures, returning to common sense, and economic analysis. At the same time, he also offered suggestions from perspectives including “sharpness of courtroom proceedings,” “points of leverage in evidence,” and “building a sense of dialogue,” emphasizing that in court debates, attention should be paid to the targeted nature and logical rigor of responses to opposing arguments, and that the defense strategy of “preemptive questioning—precise guidance” should be skillfully employed to enhance the layered quality and persuasiveness of courtroom proceedings.

During the case analysis session, Attorney Wang Weining conducted an in-depth examination of the case’s core issues, including “the legality of the conduct,” “causation,” and “whether the victim’s interests should be protected.” He pointed out that criminal defense not only requires attention to the legal elements but also calls for a return to common sense and reasonableness. It is crucial to pay close attention to the missing pieces of evidence in a case and to identify entry points that favor the defense. In addition, he particularly emphasized the importance of “empathy” in criminal defense, encouraging students, in their future legal practice, to both uphold their faith in the law and cultivate multi-dimensional perspectives as well as a spirit of open dialogue.

At the end of the course, Attorney Wang Weining shared his personal professional experiences and offered words of encouragement to the students present. He emphasized that as legal professionals from Peking University, they should always remain steadfast in their belief in the rule of law and courageously stand up for what is right and speak out boldly when confronted with real-world challenges. He also encouraged more young legal professionals to join the field of criminal defense, pointing out that the current pool of criminal lawyers urgently needs fresh, high-quality talent with both expertise and a deep sense of commitment. He expressed his hope that Peking University students would actively pay attention to and engage in this highly mission-driven career path in law.

After the course concluded, Professor Che Hao presented Attorney Wang Weining with a teaching certificate from Peking University and posed for a commemorative photo. This teaching session not only represents a deep integration of legal education at universities with legal practice by attorneys, but also broadens the horizons and enhances the approaches for cultivating future legal professionals. Xinglai Law Firm will continue to support the seamless connection between legal education and practice, helping young legal professionals keep growing and achieving breakthroughs on their professional journeys.

Editing and Layout: Wang Xin

Reviewed by: Management Committee

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