Founded in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province in 1900, Soochow University — predecessor of present-day Soochow University (Suzhou) and Soochow University (Taiwan) — is China’s first modern university adopting Western academic systems, pioneering modern higher education and integrating the finest of Chinese and Western cultures. It was also China’s earliest university offering legal education in Anglo-American law.
From the galaxy of distinguished scholars during the Republic of China era to the pioneering innovation in the People’s Republic period, the Soochow Law School nurtured generations of renowned jurists recognized both domestically and internationally. A well-known maxim states: “Chaoyang in the north, Soochow in the south.” Chaoyang University, predecessor of Renmin University of China, was a cradle for judges, while Soochow University cultivated lawyers. Graduates of Soochow Law School mastered both Chinese and foreign legal provisions and received rigorous English training, enabling them to play key roles in complex foreign-related cases. Among China’s modern and contemporary legal masters, distinguished figures including Wang Chonghui, Wu Jingxiong, Sheng Zhenwei, Qiu Hanping, Sun Xiaolou, Wang Boqi, Tang Zhaolong, Li Haopei, Ni Zhengyu and Pan Handian either taught at Soochow to nurture students or graduated from Soochow to become towering legal authorities.
In 1996, DONGYOU LAW FIRM was founded with the initiative and support of the Beijing Alumni Association of Soochow University. It adopted Soochow University’s motto “Cultivate the Integrity of Heaven and Earth; Emulate the Perfect Men of All Ages” as its firm maxim. “DONGYOU” is the shorthand for “Soochow Alumni”. Lei Jieqiong, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, inscribed the name “DONGYOU LAW FIRM”. To encourage DONGYOU practitioners to carry forward the Soochow spirit, Ms. Lei also wrote the calligraphy “The Spirit of Soochow, Passed Down from Generation to Generation”. Later, Professor Ni Zhengyu inscribed the tribute “Distinguished Legal Luminaries” for DONGYOU, and Justice Yang Tieliang also left an inscription for the firm. Mr. Shen Guansheng, alumnus of Soochow University, law professor, former bureau-level judge of the Supreme People’s Court and arbitrator of China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, served as the Honorary Director of DONGYOU.
DONGYOU inherits the humanistic philosophy of Soochow University and applies the ethos of academic pursuit and talent cultivation to legal services, laying the foundation for DONGYOU’s cultural philosophy. The firm commits to building DONGYOU’s core culture: “Uphold Integrity, Pursue Excellence; Harmonious DONGYOU, Fulfilling Lives”, serving as shared cultural values and code of conduct for all DONGYOU practitioners.
Lei Jieqiong was one of the founders of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, a distinguished sociologist, jurist and educator, and an eminent social activist. In 1922, inspired by her ideal of “Saving the Nation through Science”, Lei Jieqiong pursued further studies in the United States and returned to China upon completing her studies in 1931. She subsequently taught at Yenching University, Soochow University and Beijing College of Political Science and Law. She devoted herself to the national salvation movement against Japanese aggression, advanced the women’s movement, participated in founding the China Association for Promoting Democracy, and took an active part in multiple undertakings for the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
The upper-left photograph captures a cordial conversation between Chairman Mao Zedong and Lei Jieqiong, specially invited women delegate, during the recess of the 3rd Session of the 1st National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, held in Beijing from October 23 to November 1, 1951. The upper-right photograph records the handshake between Comrade Deng Xiaoping and Lei Jieqiong, Chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, when Deng met all members of the Drafting Committee for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 1990. The lower-left photograph was taken on February 8, 2002, at a Spring Festival forum for non-Party personages held by the CPC Central Committee in Zhongnanhai, Beijing. General Secretary Jiang Zemin shook hands with Lei Jieqiong, Honorary Chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy. The lower-right photograph: On September 6, 2005, Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President of the People’s Republic of China, visited Lei Jieqiong at her residence. He extended sincere greetings on behalf of the CPC Central Committee to this centenarian.
Dr. Ni Zhengyu graduated from the Law School of Soochow University in 1928. After 1948, he successively held posts as Professor, Chair of the Law Department and Dean of Academic Affairs of the Law School of Soochow University. He was a preeminent Chinese jurist and the first Chinese Judge of the International Court of Justice of the United Nations. He repeatedly participated in major international legislative and judicial activities, including the trial of Japanese Class-A war criminals before the International Military Tribunal for the Far East from 1946 to 1948, widely known as the Tokyo Trials. In 1946, Shen Guansheng, Honorary Director of DONGYOU LAW FIRM, was admitted to the Law School of Soochow University and studied under Dr. Ni Zhengyu.
The photo depicts Dr. Ni Zhengyu and Professor Shen Guansheng.
Upon the founding of DONGYOU LAW FIRM, Mr. Chen Jianguo, who had previously served as Judge of the Beijing Higher People’s Court, Deputy Director of the Legal Affairs Office of the Standing Committee of Beijing Municipal People’s Congress, Deputy Director and Principal Bureau-level Researcher of the Research Office of the Supreme People’s Court, acted as the firm’s Honorary Director.
The photo shows Sir Ti-liang Yang, alumnus of Soochow University and the first Chinese Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong and then member of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Preparatory Committee, receiving Shen Guansheng and his wife (1st and 2nd from left), Honorary Directors of DONGYOU LAW FIRM, and Researcher Chen Jianguo and his wife (1st and 2nd from right) in Hong Kong.
The photo shows Dr. Ni Zhengyu, renowned jurist and former Judge of the International Court of Justice of the United Nations, receiving Mr. Cao Qichen (far left), Senior Consultant of DONGYOU LAW FIRM and alumnus of the Law School of Soochow University.
