From March 27 to 29, 2026, the 15th session of the King&Capital Law Firm Criminal Defense Practical Training Seminar was held in Beijing. New and returning participants from Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Jiangsu, Fujian, Anhui, Shandong, Hebei, and other regions gathered to engage in practical exercises focused on the topic of cross-examination in court. The course was led by Tian Wenchang, Honorary Dean of the Advanced Institute of Criminal Defense at Northwest University of Political Science and Law, Founding Partner and Honorary Director of King&Capital Law Firm, serving as Chief Advisor. The program also featured Wang Jiuchuan, Senior Partner at King&Capital Law Firm and Director of the Kyoto Criminal Defense Lecture Hall, Men Jinling, former associate professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and senior partner at King&Capital Law Firm; and Li Rong, former associate professor at the School of Law, Minzu University of China and partner at King&Capital Law Firm, served as members of the advisory panel providing commentary and guidance. Senior partners Liu Lijie, Yang Damin, Wang Xintong, and Sun Guangzhi of King&Capital Law Firm served as lead instructors. Over the course of three days and two nights, they thoroughly covered the topic of courtroom cross-examination for the participants.
Opening Remarks
Chu Changzhi, Managing Partner and CEO of King&Capital Law Firm, presided over the opening ceremony and delivered opening remarks.
As the first session of 2026, Chu Changzhi highlighted the background of the King&Capital Law Firm Criminal Defense Practical Training Program, its teaching model, and its six core curriculum modules, while providing a detailed overview of the 2026 course schedule. He fully affirmed the educational achievements of the training program over the past three years and introduced the advisory board and faculty lineup for this session. He emphasized that the Kyoto Criminal Defense Practical Training Program has moved away from traditional one-way lectures, adopting a practical teaching model based on collaborative learning, seminars, and simulations. He encouraged participants to engage in the learning process with questions and critical thinking, deepening their understanding through discussion and exchange.
As a representative of the advisory board, Men Jinling—former associate professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and senior partner at King&Capital Law Firm—noted in her address that the key to steady and sustainable success in criminal defense lies in specialization. Only by deeply cultivating expertise and thoroughly understanding legal principles can one confidently handle various unexpected situations in the courtroom. Drawing on real-life cases, she emphasized that legal provisions must be underpinned by legal principles, and that cross-examination in court is crucial for establishing the facts of a case. Lawyers must adhere to professional standards and handle procedural and substantive issues in a regulated manner. She expressed strong support for the participants’ commitment to mastering criminal defense techniques and encouraged them to continue honing their cross-examination skills as they advance steadily along their professional path.
Li Rong, former associate professor at the School of Law of Minzu University of China and partner at King&Capital Law Firm, delivered a speech offering an in-depth elaboration on the importance of cross-examination. She pointed out that cross-examination serves, on the one hand, as a core process for reconstructing the facts of a case; only through the confrontation and verification of the three characteristics of evidence can a reliable basis for adjudication be established. On the other hand, it is a vital means of safeguarding the defendant’s right to defense and realizing procedural justice. Drawing on judicial practices from both China and abroad, Li Rong traced the historical development of cross-examination. She also highlighted current issues in practice, such as the formalization of cross-examination, non-standardized presentation of evidence, and restrictions on speaking rights, and expressed hope that participants would engage in collaborative discussion during the course to collectively address these practical challenges.
“The King&Capital Law Firm Criminal Defense Practical Training Seminar has established itself as a highly influential industry brand, thanks to innovative teaching methods and the active participation of trainees,” stated Wang Jiuchuan, Senior Partner at King&Capital Law Firm and Director of the King&Capital Law Firm Criminal Defense Lecture Hall, in his advisory remarks. He noted that the training would reduce one-way lectures and strengthen interactive discussions, encouraging trainees to participate with specific questions to enhance their cross-examination strategies and on-the-spot adaptability through practical exercises.
He pointed out that in practice, cross-examination often becomes a mere formality, with many lawyers suffering from over-preparation but insufficient adaptability in the courtroom. Drawing on his own case experience, Wang Jiuchuan emphasized that cross-examination is a core component of criminal defense. Defense attorneys should focus on the points of contention, thoroughly examine the evidence framework, avoid clichés and superficial statements, and remain steadfast and unyielding on key evidence and matters of principle.
Yang Daming, a senior partner at King&Capital Law Firm, served as a lecturer. In his remarks, he reviewed the development of the training program and shared his experience of working closely with Attorney Tian Wenchang to deepen his expertise in criminal defense practice for over a decade. He explained that to establish this criminal defense training model, the team had traveled to the United States for exchange and study, conducted instructor training at Northwest University of Political Science and Law, and compiled professional curricula tailored to the realities of China’s criminal defense landscape, gradually refining a standardized and systematic practical training model. He stated that upholding professionalism and deepening expertise in formal criminal defense strategies is precisely the core value pursued by the King&Capital Law Firm Criminal Defense Practical Training Seminar, and he looked forward to learning alongside the participants and engaging in in-depth discussions on cross-examination skills.
Liu Lijie, a senior partner at King&Capital Law Firm, pointed out based on his practical experience that cross-examination is a common weak point among criminal defense attorneys. To enhance the effectiveness of the training, the team carefully selected four typical cases from hundreds of real-life cases as teaching materials, ensuring that the case files are concise while containing rich cross-examination points. He urged participants to approach the training with three core questions in mind: “What is cross-examination? Why conduct cross-examination? How to conduct cross-examination?” He encouraged everyone to actively brainstorm and collaboratively explore practical cross-examination techniques.
Special Lecture
In the evening, Attorney Tian Wenchang delivered a special presentation on “The Foundation and Pathways to Professionalization in Criminal Defense Skills.” In a session lasting nearly three hours, he emphasized that professionalization in criminal defense must be underpinned by both a solid theoretical foundation and exceptional practical skills—neither of which can be neglected.
He pointed out that China’s criminal defense theory remains relatively weak and must be built upon the three foundational disciplines of jurisprudence, criminal law, and criminal procedure law to form a systematic theoretical framework. In practice, criminal defense attorneys must integrate interdisciplinary knowledge with common sense to avoid merely theorizing without practical application. At the same time, he highlighted the “Xifa University Training Model,” stressing that in the curriculum, skills can only be enhanced through participatory and experiential training, using methods such as brainstorming and peer review. Beyond specialization, he emphasized the need to uphold criminal defense ethics and professional integrity, working together to advance the overall development of the industry.
Practical Training
During the practical training session, Attorney Sun Guangzhi began with specific cases, breaking down the cross-examination approach from three dimensions—witness identity, corroboration of testimony, and plausibility—to propose a comprehensive cross-examination logic: first, clarify the core of the accusation; second, assess the relevance of the evidence; third, raise specific objections regarding probative value; and finally, determine whether the prosecution’s facts in issue can be substantiated.
Attorney Wang Xintong systematically explained cross-examination skills. She vividly illustrated that the first step in cross-examination is to reconstruct the indictment “like building a house”: reassembling scattered evidence from the case file (bricks, rebar, and cement) into the “structure” of the charges, and breaking down the facts at each level indicated by the elements of the crime. On this foundation, she combined defense strategies to screen core evidence for “atomic analysis,” scrutinizing the “three characteristics” and “two powers” of the evidence; At the same time, she emphasized the principle of corroboration, urged vigilance against false corroboration, and called for the identification of inconsistencies that contradict common sense and logic, ultimately determining whether reasonable doubt can be excluded. She stressed that this process is the cornerstone of evidence analysis and factual reconstruction.
Over the course of three days and two nights, participants in the five groups engaged in in-depth discussions, exploring the core values, practical methods, and case applications of courtroom cross-examination.
In particular, the mock trial session—a crucial component of practical courtroom training—saw participants take on the roles of prosecution and defense in real-life cases, engaging in intense and professional cross-examination regarding case facts, witness statements, and criminal evidence.
Instructors provided detailed feedback based on courtroom performance and specific case details, offering precise recommendations for improvement regarding participants’ cross-examination techniques, language standards, and logical reasoning. Zhang Chunxi, a former judge of the Supreme People’s Court and current attorney, and Zhang Pengpeng, a former prosecutor with the Beijing Procuratorate and current attorney at King&Capital Law Firm, served as observers. They shared their insights and provided feedback on the arguments presented by the five teams.
Following the practical exercises, the four instructors shared their practical insights based on their own case handling experiences. They engaged in discussions covering topics such as the selection of defense strategies, key points of evidence cross-examination, courtroom procedural norms, and techniques for improving cross-examination skills. Participants explored topics ranging from grasping the logic of not-guilty defenses and procedural issues such as designated jurisdiction, to the examination of the three characteristics of evidence and the distinction between cross-examination and debate. Through the analysis of typical cases, they emphasized the importance of focusing on core evidence, clarifying points of contention, and strengthening logical expression, providing practical guidance for participants to enhance their criminal defense skills.
With this, the 15th Kyoto Criminal Defense Practical Training Seminar has successfully concluded. The 16th session, themed “Cross-Examination,” will commence in May 2026. We welcome all fellow lawyers to stay tuned for updates.
