The Growing Demand for Chinese Legal Services

Published by:
Sarah Chen

Reviewed by:
Alistair Vigier
Last Modified: 2024-06-10
Are you looking for Chinese legal services? The legal system in China has undergone significant development in recent years. However, structural and cultural barriers still make it difficult for Chinese people to hire lawyers. Cultural factors, such as avoiding confrontation and saving face, can make it challenging for people to seek legal recourse for disputes.
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There is a lack of trust in the legal system due to cases of corruption and abuse of power. The cost of legal services is often prohibitive, particularly for those from low-income backgrounds.

Increasing Need for Legal Services in China
Despite these barriers, there has recently been a growing demand for legal services in China. This is mainly due to the country’s economic growth and increasing levels of wealth, which has led to a greater need for legal services related to business and property disputes.
There have also been efforts to improve access to justice for all citizens, including expanding legal aid programs that provide free or low-cost legal services to people who cannot afford a lawyer. The Chinese government has also taken measures to reduce the costs of legal services, such as capping fees for some instances. Additionally, technology has been introduced to make the legal system more efficient and cost-effective.
Online dispute resolution platforms have been introduced to provide an alternative to traditional legal services, allowing people to resolve disputes through an online system. The government has also introduced a “smart court” system that uses artificial intelligence to help judges process cases more quickly and accurately.
Rising Demand for Chinese Legal Expertise
As China continues to develop its legal system, ensuring that all citizens have access to affordable and effective legal services will be crucial. Efforts to reform the legal system and improve access to justice, such as expanding legal aid programs and using technology, are positive steps in this direction.
By addressing the existing cultural and structural barriers, Chinese people will be better equipped to seek legal recourse for disputes and have greater faith in the legal system.
While cultural and structural barriers can make it challenging for Chinese people to hire lawyers, there has been a growing demand for legal services in recent years.
The Chinese government has taken measures to improve access to justice, including expanding legal aid programs and using technology. As the legal system in China continues to develop, it will be essential to address the existing barriers and ensure that all citizens have access to affordable and effective legal services.
The number of lawyers in China
There are around 650,000 lawyers in China, 130,000 in Canada, and 1,300,000 in the USA. It is common for Chinese people to use a lawyer for business contracts in China. If things go wrong, they might hire a lawyer to sue. The courts in China can be very complicated, and it’s almost impossible to take them on yourself.
Chinese people usually don’t hire a lawyer when they purchase real estate in China, and very few hire a lawyer when they divorce. Almost everything is dealt with verbally. Many Chinese immigrants don’t realize they need a lawyer to do many things in Western countries.
In China, many people don’t hire lawyers when dealing with sensitive subjects. For example, most people don’t hire a divorce lawyer unless things go south.
Expanding Market for Legal Services in China
The Chinese legal market is growing and is now around $40 billion per year in Canadian dollars. In 2015, Tencent entered the legal industry and started dominating in China. Alipay, a Chinese giant Alibaba sub-company, entered the legal industry the same year.
Baidu (Chinese Google) created a lawyer referral service in 2016. When Chinese people immigrate to Western countries, they usually do the immigration law work themselves. However, they might hire a consultant if they are willing to spend some money. Many Chinese people are price-sensitive.
They will make decisions based on who is the cheapest. They seem to see little difference in value between services. China has the largest population in the world. However, they have a small comparative legal market. Therefore, Chinese immigrants who come to Western countries should adjust their mindset.
They need to get used to legal services and lawyers. In Western countries, you need lawyers to buy houses, file for a divorce, or sign any agreement. Are Chinese people afraid of lawyers? They shouldn’t be.
Chinese people often have many questions about how the divorce process works in the West. Many of them are shocked to hear that they need to get a separation agreement professionally done by a Western lawyer.
Their bank often requires this to re-finance their mortgage after separation, so they don’t have a choice. Also, the separation agreement typically costs between $1500 and $3000.
China Is All About Building Your Network Slowly
Chinese people often like to “think about it” before signing up. On the other hand, western people are more comfortable making quick decisions. Once the separation agreement is done, they need to receive independent legal advice. The ILA normally costs around $400. Many Chinese don’t take this seriously; they get their English-speaking friend to create something. Or maybe they can download a template online.
Therefore, things get worse and more complicated. If they had done things right from the beginning, it likely would have been much cheaper and faster. Chinese people need to see the value that Canadian lawyers bring to their clients. Western countries are not the same as China.
Chinese Legal Services
Chinese should not be afraid of lawyers. They need to learn how to work with a lawyer to protect themselves. This is important to avoid making mistakes.
Many Chinese people prefer to hire lawyers who have lived in Western countries their whole lives. However, they are concerned about the language barrier. The legal assistants contact the Chinese clients, answering calls seven days a week.
This level of high availability is not standard in Western countries. However, it is important to Chinese people. Therefore, many Chinese are shocked at how hard it is to speak to someone in Western countries.
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