Cai Yuanyuan graduated from the double master’s programme of the China-EU School of Law in 2015, with a master’s degree from the China University of Political Science and Law and a master’s degree from Universität Hamburg.

Cai Yuanyuan now works in the Beijing Office of Clifford Chance LLP. In this article, she shares her work experience with younger students.

1.How does your degree from the China-EU School of Law help with your present job?

It is mainly helpful in three aspects: Firstly, the English language competence cultivated in China-EU School of Law over three years is really important.

Secondly, the improvement of critical thinking skills via the training gained from major courses. Through the learning of Chinese and EU’s laws, we did not only gain professional discipline, we also developed discipline in thinking which enhanced our critical thinking skills during the process of multi-discipline learning.

Finally, the strong ability to adapt to the high-intensity work and cope with stress. You might have already felt that the required credits of one semester here may be equivalent to the required credits of one year in some other colleges. Such curriculum arrangement and cultivation plan allows us to develop the abilities like learning fast, absorption and taking tests. I believe that the coordination in front of multiple tasks is helpful no matter if you work in the law firm or a governmental agency.

2.How is it to work as a lawyer? Could you share about the most unforgettable day during your job?

Lawyers are very busy every day. Once, during the season of mid-year financial statement, we were involved in four to five projects at once. At that time, during the daytime we would be caught in the middle of a teleconference, phone calls and emails all at the same time, as if we had superhuman powers. In the evenings, we would review materials through the whole night. Sometimes, I would arrive home after 5 a.m., sleep for less than two hours and leave home by 9 a.m. to meet a client.

As for the most unforgettable day, it should be the day when I received the job offer in December 2014. At that time, I had already been an intern in the law firm for six months. Generally, firms consider keeping the intern or not after three-months internship. But it was a foreign firm and the competition was relatively fierce. When nearly everyone received the offer in October and November, I became really stressed because it was busy there and I had no time to prepare for other choices. It was tough for me during that period of time, and I did not know if my persistence would lead to the result I desired. It was not until the day before Christmas in 2014 that I was told about my employment by the HR. I felt that my persistence was finally paid off, and that experience was unforgettable.

Now, let’s see about the new intern. Probably, they are going through the same process. I often comforted myself with the saying: do the best and God will take care of the rest. I hope that they can do the same.

3.As a successful lawyer yourself, what skills or qualities do you think are important for young lawyers to become successful?

For young lawyers, they may be self-centered and may look at problems in an isolated way sometimes, which is the greatest problem. Many young lawyers might not like to finish the tasks that are assigned to them by the junior lawyers. In actual, these tasks are assigned by the senior lawyers and the feedbacks we receive would also be summarized and sent to the senior lawyers. Therefore, I think that it’s really important for the young lawyers to be humble confident at the same time.

As for the skills, we should be good at English language, and it’s a basic skill. Secondly, we should be good at thinking and raising doubts, but it is suggested to think over before asking, since the quality of problem also reflects whether you take the job seriously. So do not ask questions before thinking them through.

In addition to that, fast-learning ability is important. For example, I am responsible for the business of Hong Kong’s capital market, and I have learned a lot of things after working such as listing rules, articles of company, etc. What’s more, I should learn from and accumulate daily cases to control them rapidly. Many new graduates are still getting used to of the state in which they would spend one or two weeks in finishing the tasks that are assigned to them by the teachers. But at work, you may be assigned with a task by a client and you have to deliver it before going to the work the next day. And there won’t be a week or two for you to finish especially for the complicated tasks. After all, the market is rapidly changing and everyone wishes to seize the opportunity.

4.What is your opinion about doing internships in the vacation?

It mainly depends on the individual life planning. If you decided to be a civil servant, it’s important to exercise. You should also seize the opportunities like practicing supreme law.

If you want to go to a law firm, internship matters. Law firms attach great importance to experience and there are gaps between those who have practiced and those who have not. But do not be frustrated because tasks assigned to interns are not very complicated.

If you have not decided where you want to go, you can make use of the vacations to practice and to enjoy the atmosphere. It would not be bad for you.

5.Is there something you would like to say to CESL’s current students?

When you find it difficult to make decisions, make efforts towards the direction you want most, and try your best. You have the opportunity when you seize it, or it would just be meaningless.

Besides that, I want to say that persistence is really significant. I have seen people changing jobs frequently. It’s okay if it is not the job you want, but it would be better if you adhere to it (instead of leaving)for trivial things. Nothing is impossible for a willing mind.

I wish you could make the best use of the school days to enrich yourself. After being occupied by work, people seldom have the time for study.

Finally, I wish you to enjoy the time at the China-EU School of Law.

Writer: Cai Yuanyuan and Chang Yuan (2017 double master’s student from the China-EU School of Law）

Picture: Cai Yuanyuan(2015 double master’s graduate from the China-EU School of Law）