| Author: Zhuo Yaqi, Law School, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics
| Internship Team: YOULI LEGAL Team

In August 2024, I had the honor of receiving an internship opportunity with the YOULI LEGAL team at Beijing Longan (Guangzhou) Law Firm. Before starting my formal internship, Lawyer Ye Junxi emphasized two points to me: 1. As an intern, I cannot access confidential documents due to authority limitations, but I must still adhere to strict confidentiality rules in all other tasks; 2. I need to prepare myself to have a high-quality internship as the first step in my college career. Although it’s just an internship, this “professional atmosphere” is very attractive for a law student who has little exposure to real legal work.

I’m just a “newbie” entering the legal field. In school, I studied legal theory. I also covered case analysis and practical courses, but I was still separated from the real legal world. However, during this short one-month internship, I experienced the reality of working as a lawyer, which is completely different from classroom learning. Every day, I was involved in contracts, lawsuits, and client needs. My professional knowledge became like water, filling every corner of my work. When I started working in a law firm, I realized that classroom learning is just a map, while real legal work is a path full of challenges. Classroom learning helps me build a foundation of knowledge, while practice teaches me various professional skills.

Skill Unlocked 1: Creating Contracts from Nothing

  1. Initial Challenges: When I first tried to draft a lease contract, I hadn’t studied contract law systematically. I didn’t know much about the format and importance of the clauses. I had to use all the available contract templates I could find, but the results weren’t satisfactory.
  2. Progress Over Time: As time passed, whenever Lawyer Li from the team gave me the final version for review, I compared it with my own revisions and learned from those experiences. This became my own reusable skills.
  3. Learning from Experts: After some time, I realized that the team had created guidelines for reviewing contracts in common situations, along with sample texts for relevant clauses. This helped me quickly master the key points of those contracts. Once I had a basic understanding, I started choosing the right parts of the contract and refining the details.

In reality, there’s no such thing as “creating something from nothing.” Each guideline is the result of the experience of experienced lawyers.

Skill Unlocked 2: Reviewing Contracts from a Higher Perspective

  1. Avoiding Unfamiliar Areas: At first, I spent a lot of time reviewing contracts, and I needed to look up relevant laws to confirm details. During a meeting, my mentor suggested that I shouldn’t be afraid of unfamiliar areas. Although I have no experience in those areas, I can use other lawyers’ cases and reports to understand the risks. For example, when reviewing a contract, I can look up relevant court cases and official reports to understand the risks.
  2. Avoiding Isolation: When reviewing contracts, I shouldn’t work alone with my mentor. If I don’t understand the client’s needs, the results may not meet their expectations. Therefore, I should understand the background, purpose, industry, and other aspects of the contract.
  3. Avoiding Overly Powerful Clauses: The main purpose of reviewing contracts is to facilitate transactions and manage risks. I shouldn’t act like a “transaction killer.” If I use too many powerful clauses, it may create obstacles for the client. I should balance the client’s interests with the other parties’ rights.
  4. Not Having a “Higher Perspective”: As a newbie, I can use court cases and reports to help me draft and review contracts. But I still miss out on some risks due to lack of experience. For example, when reviewing a contract, I added a clause about intellectual property rights, but my mentor reminded me that I should also consider data compliance risks.

After many experiences, I realized that there’s no “higher perspective.” All the insights I get are from experience. Lawyers should learn from others’ mistakes and turn them into their own wisdom.

Skill Unlocked 3: Legal Research
Academic research in school is different from legal research in practice. In practice, legal research is aimed at solving client problems or legal issues. It can include answering questions, resolving disputes, or ensuring compliance. Here are some lessons I’ve learned:

  1. Research Skills: First, identify the key questions, then use keywords and tools like “gov” to find information.
  2. Scope of Research: Determine the time and place of the research. Is it about recent cases in the same province, or decisions by government agencies? Or is it about multiple laws?
  3. Channels for Research: Use online tools like WeChat and authoritative sources like government websites and databases. The validity of the information is important.
  4. Reporting: Write reports clearly, including the research questions, keywords, and sources. Then, list the laws and cases that support your conclusions.
  5. Trustworthiness: Ensure the information is reliable. If the information is unreliable, it’s like standing on a unstable rock. It can cause problems for the client.

For example, when researching whether “case supervision and review can happen at the same time,” I found a claim that it’s not possible. My mentor asked what the law says and whether there are cases to support it. I then found the correct law.

This internship made me feel lucky. I developed good research habits before starting work. This will help me become a trustworthy professional in the future.

During my one-month internship at Longan Guangzhou Law Firm, I learned about document filing, case management, and enforcement applications. I also learned how to communicate with clients, courts, and arbitration committees.

My mentors helped me grow. I realized I need more legal knowledge. I hope to study hard and become a professional who can help others.