Criminal Affairs Department

Introduction to the Criminal Affairs Department

      Criminal defense is a traditional strength of Yunnan Zhongji Law Firm. Currently, the Criminal Law Department comprises more than thirty outstanding lawyers who have graduated from top-tier law schools across China. This elite team, meticulously cultivated by the firm, includes renowned criminal defense expert Attorney Liu Hule, a member of the Criminal Specialized Committee of the All-China Lawyers Association; Attorney Wan Li, Vice President of the All-China Lawyers Association and President of the Yunnan Provincial Lawyers Association; as well as several other experienced lawyers with prior careers in public prosecution, investigation, and judicial institutions, along with a large number of talented mid-career and young lawyers. The lawyers in this department possess profound professional expertise, refined criminal defense skills, and extensive case-handling experience. Over the years of practice, they have successfully handled a large number of criminal cases, achieving remarkable results particularly in areas such as economic crimes, corruption and bribery offenses, smuggling crimes, drug-related crimes, and juvenile delinquency cases. Many of these cases have had significant social impact. With their strong sense of responsibility, high-quality legal services, and excellent defense outcomes, the lawyers of the Criminal Law Department have earned widespread praise from clients and all sectors of society. Gained a strong professional reputation. 。

The Criminal Division provides team-based services for each case, assisting designated attorneys in delivering legal services. For major and complex cases, it offers a “consultative” approach—conducting collective discussions to pool diverse perspectives and integrate the opinions of most attorneys, thereby ensuring high-quality representation.

quality of service. Throughout their long-term practice, the criminal defense attorneys have earned high praise from their clients and various sectors of society thanks to their superb professional skills, highly responsible and dedicated work ethic, and outstanding defense results. As a result, they have cultivated strong interpersonal and professional relationships and gained a solid reputation.

Professional credibility.

Scope of Legal Services Provided by the Criminal Affairs Department

The specific scope of business of the Criminal Division mainly includes:

(1) Crime Prevention

We accept appointments from state organs, enterprises and public institutions, and various corporate legal entities in accordance with the law to provide legal advice and legal assistance, conduct prevention of official misconduct, implement criminal risk management for senior executives of enterprises, and offer criminal compliance training for enterprises.

(2) Legal Services During the Investigation Phase

Provide legal assistance to the parties in accordance with the law, meet with criminal suspects, learn about the alleged charges and relevant details of the case, offer legal advice to criminal suspects, apply for bail pending trial, and act as an agent for appeals and complaints.

(3) Legal Services During the Prosecution Review Stage

Provide legal defense for criminal suspects in accordance with the law; review, excerpt, and copy case-related materials; meet with and communicate with criminal suspects; investigate and collect relevant evidence; and submit to the procuratorial authorities written defense arguments asserting the suspect’s innocence, lighter culpability, or mitigation or exemption from criminal liability. If the procuratorial authority decides not to prosecute and the person not prosecuted requests an appeal, act on their behalf to file an appeal with the procuratorial authority. Serve as the litigation agent for the victim and submit to the procuratorial authority opinions on behalf of the victim regarding this case.

(4) Legal Services During the Trial Phase

Provide defense services to the defendant during the first-instance and second-instance proceedings in accordance with the law; review, excerpt, and copy case-related materials; meet with and communicate with the defendant; investigate and collect evidence; attend court hearings and present defense arguments asserting the defendant’s innocence or mitigating circumstances; act as the litigation agent for the victim, participate in court trials, and submit agency opinions on the case to the People’s Court.

(5) Defense for the defendant during the death penalty review stage.

Meet with and communicate with the defendant, investigate and collect evidence, and present defense arguments asserting the defendant’s innocence, lesser culpability, or that the death penalty should not be approved.

(6) Legal Services in the Retrial Phase

Acting as the agent lawyer in appeal cases, I legally prepare appeal documents, file applications for retrial on behalf of the client, and participate in the proceedings of retrial cases.

(7) Legal Services for Criminal Civil Actions

Acting as the litigation agent for a party in an incidental civil action in accordance with the law, preparing the criminal incidental civil complaint on behalf of the client, guiding and assisting the client in collecting evidence, advising or assisting the client in applying to the people’s court to seize or freeze the defendant’s property, and participating in court proceedings.

Review, file appeals and complaints on behalf of the client with the investigative authorities and the prosecution authorities, and prepare legal opinions.

(8) Legal Services for Criminal Private Prosecution Cases

Acting as the litigation agent for the private prosecutor upon their entrustment, I will prepare and submit the criminal private complaint on their behalf, collect relevant evidence supporting the charges, attend court hearings, and bring forth accusations of crime. Additionally, I will serve as the defense counsel for the defendant in private prosecution cases, providing legal defense services to the defendant in accordance with the law.