Last week, as part of our Industry Expert series of presentations and talks, we invited attorney Marc Qian from Shanghai United Law Firm to give a talk on career pathways into the law profession to our senior students.
Mr. Qian has a rich academic and professional background. From 2009 to 2012, he studied in Canada and earned two degrees. From 2012 to 2017, he worked at Jones & Co Law Firm, and then from 2017 to the present day he works at United Law Firm. His clients have included Scotia Bank, York University, Mizuno, Tom Dixon, Starbucks and many others.
First, Mr. Qian introduced the professional choices for law students. Judges are the executors of judicial power, while attorneys are those who have obtained a lawyer's practice certificate and accept commissions or appointments to provide legal services to clients. Other career paths include procurators, public officials, arbitrators, and legal counsels.
Next, Mr. Qian discussed the influence of the legal profession, including many former US and world presidents and first ladies who have legal backgrounds. On a smaller scale, community legal services and pro bono legal consultations help instill legal awareness among residents.
Finally, Mr. Qian introduced the professional skills and educational background required for a legal career. He emphasised the importance of reading and writing ability, logical and analytical skills, expression and social skills, and maintaining a passion for learning.
This was an incredibly practical lecture, opening a window of opportunity for our students. Through this lecture, they not only learned about the diversity of legal careers and the wide range of professional choices available but also gained a deeper understanding of the core skills and qualities required for success in the legal field. Mr. Qian, with his extensive professional experience and profound academic background, provided invaluable career guidance and life inspiration. His insights not only broadened the students' horizons but also sparked their reflections and plans for future career development.
We believe this lecture will become a significant milestone in the students' career exploration, inspiring them to continuously pursue excellence in their future studies and professional lives, and to become the best versions of themselves.
This series has received wonderful feedback from our students so far, as they gain such valuable advice and direction from individuals who have clearly excelled in their own pathways, and we will continue with this project for the 2024/25 academic year.
In the meantime, the final speaker for the current academic year will be retired United Nations and international relations expert - also joint recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the IAEA - Mr Ziya Yazici, who will join us on campus on Friday 14 June.
