Wider understanding of issues boosted, but experts urge tight regulation
As she juggles her caseload, lawyer Wang Wanqiong has added a new brief to her weekly routine — hosting livestream sessions that delve into the legal intricacies of current social events with her audience.
On Aug 23, Wang, from Sichuan province, took to her WeChat livestream to unravel the legalities surrounding cross-border telecom fraud. In the past, she has used her platform to shed light on labor laws and anti-discrimination policies, highlighting companies that offer job opportunities for former convicts.
"Leveraging videos and livestreams to demystify the law and address people's legal inquiries is inevitable in this fast-paced digital era," said Wang, a criminal law specialist at the Baijus Law Firm. "It's also a social responsibility for those in the legal profession."
Wang is not alone. A report released early this year by Douyin, a popular Chinese short-video sharing and livestreaming platform, showed that the number of legal content creators on the platform had soared past 200,000. Those involved included lawyers, law professors and law enthusiasts, with their number steadily climbing.
The appetite for legal content is also on the rise. In December 2024, monthly views of legal content increased by over 20 percent compared with June of that year. Certified law firms witnessed an impressive 83 percent growth in viewership, according to the report.
Li Ya, a lawyer at Beijing Zhongwen Law Firm, is navigating this new avenue for providing legal services. "The increasingly rich legal content indicates that the public's legal awareness has improved," he said.
However, he expressed concern about those who chase online fame by sensationalizing case details, fabricating facts and breaching litigants' privacy during livestreams.
"These practices compromise the integrity of the legal profession and present serious ethical and legal challenges," he said, calling for stricter regulation and oversight of legal content in live-streams and videos.
Legal education trend
Over the past year, Wang has hosted over 60 livestreams, sometimes drawing more than 6,000 viewers at once.
"The internet has revolutionized how knowledge is shared, turning online legal education into a growing trend," she said. "This method not only meets the public's increasing demand for legal services but also pushes legal professionals like me to stay informed, think critically, and engage in research."
She creates short videos that break down provisions and criminal procedures, such as advising on the steps to take if a family member is questioned by the police, making the law more accessible and understandable for a wider audience.
On July 18, for instance, she uploaded two videos on her WeChat channel, each under eight minutes long, illustrating what constitutes justifiable defense using a real criminal case from Shaanxi province. These videos have amassed over 1.37 million views, with more than 6,600 thumbs-up and nearly 4,000 likes.
Yi Yi, a founding partner of Beijing Jiali Law Firm, also uses real cases to discuss marriage and family law on Kuaishou, another popular video platform, where she has nearly 600,000 followers.
During her livestreams and videos, she avoids complex legal issues and jargon, opting instead to address matters that resonate with her audience. By using case studies, without detailing those involved, she delivers clear and focused legal insights while promoting values such as trust, equality, love, and happiness in marriage.
In Wang's opinion, using everyday language and real-life examples helps bridge the gap between legal professionals and the public, making legal education more practical and effective.
Misuse, disruption
Wang highlighted the critical need to uphold privacy and integrity, warning against sharing excessive details about individuals involved in cases for the sake of online fame. She stressed that livestreams and videos should not include content unrelated to the law, disrupt public order, or exacerbate conflicts.
In July, for example, a lawyer surnamed Zheng from Hunan province was fined 50,000 yuan ($7,010) by a local court. Zheng was penalized for distorting facts in a contract case handled by his firm, misleading public opinion, and extensively defaming the presiding judge in video posts, according to the Sichuan-based news outlet thecover.cn.
The court stated that Zheng's actions severely undermined justice and had a negative societal impact. He was also ordered to remove the videos and issue an apology, the report noted.
In April 2024, a Shanghai-based lawyer surnamed Dong faced a backlash from netizens after posting videos on social media where she discussed legal topics while dancing. Some argued her behavior was inconsistent with the professionalism expected of a lawyer, according to Dingduan News, a media outlet in Henan province.
Dong also responded to comments by stating that her income as a lawyer was less than what she earned from livestreaming and encouraged her peers to create "borderline" or "edgy" content, which immediately sparked public controversy.
Furthermore, some netizens criticized Dong's demeanor during livestreams, showing screenshots of her exaggerated expressions and laughter while addressing serious issues like juvenile rape.
In response, Dong apologized and removed the dancing videos, clarifying that her suggestion to her peers was meant as a joke.
Although Dong and Zheng faced consequences for their actions, the conduct and communication of legal professionals in livestreams and videos — particularly regarding what content is shared and how it is presented — remain a focal point of discussion within the legal community.
Need for regulation
For Wang, maintaining rigor and professionalism online is crucial for lawyers. Fabricating facts or relying on sensationalism and exaggerated performances to attract views should be avoided. "It's also important to steer clear of posting vulgar content, inciting cyberbullying, or compromising national security," she emphasized.
Yu Qi, a marriage lawyer at Tahota Law Firm, observed that many internet users are more interested in sensational and unusual details of disputes than in legal explanations. "Lawyers should not blindly cater to public tastes, nor should they use their online platforms to market other products or services," she cautioned.
"We must always remember our role as lawyers and uphold the integrity of the law."
She said that she is prudent when discussing cases she is handling, as lawyers have a duty to be accountable to their clients. "I will address common questions from online comments and offer legal interpretations, rather than paying attention to the specifics of any individual case," she added.
Li from Beijing Zhongwen Law Firm agreed. "Using popular methods and language to spread legal knowledge does not mean trivializing legal services," he said.
Maintaining confidentiality and protecting privacy are fundamental ethical responsibilities for lawyers. Treating livestreams as a "show" and dramatizing case details damage the profession's image and credibility, and also violate the Civil Code and professional conduct rules for lawyers, Li added.
"It is prohibited to predict outcomes or guarantee victories for cases that have not yet been concluded," he warned. "Information from cases that are not open to the public, as well as information and files from ongoing criminal cases, must not be disclosed online."
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Li urged internet platforms to improve the verification of lawyers' identities when processing relevant registration applications, and conduct timely reviews of legal content in livestreams.
He also suggested online platforms, bar associations and internet regulatory bodies take disciplinary actions if they find a lawyer who streams content that is frequently flagged as "misleading" by peers or viewers.
"The ultimate goal of leveraging technologies is to optimize legal services and enable the public to learn and use the law, rather than create more legal risks," Wang said.
She called on judicial authorities to strengthen the management of lawyers and establish regulations on the dissemination of legal knowledge through new media.
"For example, the authorities need to specify how many years a lawyer must have practiced before they can participate in legal live-streams, and also prohibit selling products through legal accounts," she said.
Contact the writer at caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn
