To actively fulfill our social responsibilities, strengthen legal education for young people, and guide minors in developing a proper understanding of their rights and responsibilities, on May 13, Attorney Nie Sufang, Senior Partner and Head of the Third Criminal Practice Department at King&Capital Law Firm, was invited to Yuhong School, affiliated with Capital Normal University, to deliver a special lecture titled “Guarding the Boundaries of ‘Freedom’: A Compulsory Course on the Rule of Law for Middle School Students” to all eighth-grade students. Drawing on her professional expertise, she helped build a solid legal foundation for their growth.
I. Age and Responsibility Go Hand in Hand; Growing Up Means Embracing Responsibility
At the beginning of the lecture, Attorney Nie Sufang used the “age-responsibility ladder” as a starting point. Drawing on laws and regulations such as the Law on the Protection of Minors, the Law on Public Security Administration Punishments, and the Criminal Law, she systematically outlined the boundaries of legal responsibility corresponding to five key age milestones—8, 12, 14, 16, and 18—using language relatable to students’ daily lives. From civil liability to administrative liability, and from the age of relative criminal responsibility to the age of full criminal responsibility, each numerical milestone signifies an expansion of rights and an increase in responsibilities.
“True freedom has never been about doing whatever one pleases, but rather about making autonomous choices within the framework of legal rules,” emphasized Attorney Nie. He noted that middle school students are at a critical stage in the formation of their values. Understanding legal boundaries and clarifying behavioral limits are indispensable prerequisites for their growth. Only by internalizing the law and adhering to it in practice can they truly enjoy freedom and shoulder responsibility as they mature.
II. Zero Legal Tolerance for Misconduct on Campus
Addressing high-risk scenarios commonly found on campus, Attorney Nie focused on “Legal Regulation of Misconduct on Campus.” Drawing on real-life cases she has handled, she provided an in-depth explanation of the risks and behavioral boundaries associated with online social media. She also comprehensively analyzed the legal nature and consequences of various forms of misconduct, including physical altercations, verbal abuse, online defamation, and social isolation. She clearly stated that school bullying is by no means a “joke” or “roughhousing”; regardless of the severity of the act, it falls within the scope of legal regulation. Those involved in serious cases will face civil compensation, administrative penalties, or even criminal liability in accordance with the law.
“A single malicious remark may constitute verbal infringement, and a single impulsive shove may cross the legal line.” “Using real-life cases to warn the students present, Attorney Nie emphasized that while the law adheres to a principle of prioritizing education for minors, schools and society will not condone or tolerate school bullying that is ”targeted, persistent, and harmful.“ Any harmful behavior justified as ”just playing around" will ultimately be subject to legal regulation and punishment. She guided the students to abandon bad habits at their root and steer clear of legal risks.
III. Protecting Yourself Wisely: Practicing the “Three Don’ts”
Faced with campus conflicts and risks, how can one use the law to protect oneself? Attorney Nie offered the professional and practical “Three Don’ts Principle”: Do not participate in harming others; do not endure suffering in silence; and do not stand by as a bystander. She carefully explained the legal boundaries of self-defense, guiding students to prioritize their own safety in the face of conflict and danger, seek help from teachers, parents, or law enforcement immediately, and refuse to respond to violence with violence or remain silent and condone it.
“Wise self-protection is the best way to safeguard yourself. Only by daring to speak up and knowing how to defend your rights can we collectively maintain a harmonious campus.” Attorney Nie encouraged the students to not only uphold the bottom line of not harming others but also to bravely defend their own rights. She urged them to become “guardians” with a sense of justice, using the power of the law to jointly build a safe, civilized, and orderly campus environment.
Unwavering Commitment to the Rule of Law: Safeguarding Youthful Growth
The lecture concluded to a round of enthusiastic applause. This legal education outreach program represents an important initiative by King&Capital Law Firm to practice public interest legal services and support legal education for young people. As a senior attorney with years of experience in criminal defense, Attorney Nie Sufang used her professional expertise and compassionate guidance to instill the spirit of the rule of law in the hearts of the students, helping them clarify the relationship between freedom and rules, as well as the boundaries between rights and responsibilities.
For a long time, King&Capital Law Firm has consistently fulfilled its social responsibilities by continuously organizing diverse public legal education activities, extending professional legal services to campuses, communities, and grassroots levels. In the future, King&Capital lawyers will continue to put their commitments into action by regularly conducting legal education and outreach for young people, using their professional expertise to safeguard the healthy growth of minors.
