First Female Lawyer in Tibet

SUN YIQU & LIU XIMEI

Tall and slim. This should constitute a perfect Oriental beauty. When I saw her self-confident steps pecking the square of the Lhasa Intermediary People’s Court, I understood she is more than a beauty.

Yangjin speaking out her experience at a meeting.

In 1985, Yangjin, then 21, graduated from the Southwest Political and Legal Institute and was assigned to work in the Legal Commission of the Tibet Autonomous Regional government. It was an office of six lawyers and Yangjin turned out to be the only female among them.

Four years later, Yangjin opened her own economic attorney office, which was the first of its kind in the whole of Tibet. In 1993, she launched Tibet’s first cooperative lawyer’s office.

Thus far, Yangjin has handled some 800 legal cases, and served as lawyer for over 100 enterprises. Altogether, she helped recoup some 70 million yuan for them. Of the 310 criminal cases in which she worked as the defending lawyer, 41 were released free.

Over the past decade, she has never known weekends. She has to be present on the court four or even five times a week. She was fully occupied.

“I am busy because the Tibetans have gained legal knowledge,” explained Yangjin, adding: “They realize the importance of living on law. This is why there are so many enterprises and companies, which employ their own attorneys.”

According to Yangjin, there are some 10 lawyer’s offices in Tibet. They employ 53 professional lawyers and close to 100 senior lawyers. Of them are six female lawyers. “We are numerically insufficient to cope with the growing market need,” said Yangjin.

“In the past, the Tibetans felt insulted to go to court. They prefer to have a senior villager to help solve any disputes. Our business means the progress of the society.”

Yangjin is one of the Top 10 Lawyers in China.

Whenever entrusted with an economic case, Yangjin plunged into work right away. Once, a construction company boss used up his money for an economic case. He borrowed 2,000 yuan from Yangjin and promised to pay her back soon. But he never did so.

“When I worked for others, I do my best to win for them,” said Yangjin smilingly. “So far as I am concerned, I don’t know how to get back my money.”

Outside the court, Yangjin is somewhat shy. She speaks slowly and in a tender voice. Given her success, Yangjin, 35 this year, is one of Top 10 Lawyers in China and one of Top 10 Youths in China.