On June 11, Attorney Xu Ying, a senior partner at Beijing King&Capital Law Firm, was invited back to her alma mater, China University of Political Science and Law, to deliver a special lecture titled “Communication Skills in Criminal Defense” to undergraduate students. This session was part of the university-wide undergraduate course “Practical Criminal Defense and Representation,” taught exclusively by senior criminal defense attorneys who have extensive experience on the front lines of criminal defense and possess both a strong theoretical foundation and rich practical experience.
At the beginning of the class, Attorney Xu Ying clearly pointed out that the core objective of criminal defense is to persuade adjudicators, and that efficient, professional communication skills are essential qualities for criminal defense attorneys. She noted that there are no fixed templates or standard answers for communication in criminal defense; rather, learning communication skills involves sharing practical experience, inspiring critical thinking, and guiding action—requiring young legal professionals to continuously refine and flexibly improve these skills through hands-on case work. At the same time, Attorney Xu Ying emphasized that professional communication skills are not only fundamental to criminal defense work but also comprehensively enhance an individual’s ability to collaborate in the workplace and interact with others, holding significant value for students’ future career development as well as their daily work and personal lives.
During the lecture, Attorney Xu Ying constructed a systematic framework for criminal defense communication centered on the communication partners. She meticulously categorized the key participants in criminal defense scenarios, covering all core parties, including clients, defendants, investigative authorities, prosecutorial authorities, judicial authorities, witnesses, expert witnesses, and victims. Drawing on her many years of frontline case experience and real-life case studies, she explained communication methods, practical techniques, and pitfalls for different scenarios in an accessible manner, tailored to the identity characteristics, positions, and communication logic of each category of communication partner. Through interactive classroom discussions, she guided students to think critically and apply what they had learned, fostering a relaxed and lively classroom atmosphere.
Beyond practical techniques, Attorney Xu Ying ensured the course maintained theoretical depth by providing professional interpretations of the core legal theories underlying defense communication. She systematically elucidated fundamental theories of criminal defense—such as the source of the mandate to represent, the defendant’s right to review case files, and the attorney’s right to independent defense—thereby breaking down the barriers between legal theory and judicial practice. This delivered a practical course that was theoretically sound, highly applicable, and instructive.
After the course concluded, the students in attendance unanimously expressed that they had gained a great deal and were deeply inspired. This session allowed everyone to move beyond textbook theory and gain an intuitive, multidimensional understanding of real-world criminal defense work. They gained a profound understanding of the core value of communication in defense work and gained further clarity on the professional essence and competency requirements of criminal defense attorneys, laying a practical foundation for their future legal studies and career planning.
