People Consider Me a Kind Lawyer

(Minghui.org) I worked as a lawyer in the 1990s, during the “make money quietly” period under Jiang Zemin’s regime. It seemed that everyone pursued money, and the legal profession was no different—making money was the goal.

I read Zhuan Falun in 1996 and I realized that Falun Dafa improves one’s character. However, I did not truly begin cultivating at that time. Influenced by my colleagues, I pursued fame and personal interest after I became a lawyer. To attract clients, I often dined with people and drank until I passed out.

I was not concerned with who was right or wrong, or whether the case could be won. I took cases as long as people paid me. I deceived people both intentionally and unintentionally, and to win cases, I used connections and went through back doors. One judge asked me to draft the judgment in a case I handled.

I continued this unscrupulous behavior for two years. I felt bad. When I began developing illnesses, I knew in my heart that I could no longer behave this way. In the beginning of 1999, I began studying Falun Dafa, doing the exercises, and truly cultivating.

My body and mind soon changed for the better. All my health issues disappeared. Through repeatedly reading Zhuan Falun and Master Li’s other lectures, I gradually understood what Dafa is. I realized that one’s life comes from a high level of the cosmos; the purpose of being human is to return to one’s true self; material wealth does not come with birth and it cannot be taken with us when we die. When we use unscrupulous ways to make money, we are destroying ourselves.

I began following Falun Dafa’s guiding principles: Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. I stopped drinking, dining, and engaging in improper dealings with judges. I treated my clients as family. I was no longer a profit-chasing, unscrupulous lawyer. Most people said I was a kind lawyer.

Refusing Fees

Soon after I began cultivating, a partner at the law firm was given a case involving disputes arising from a large construction contract. The legal fees for the preparation phase were 300,000 yuan. The partner gave me 10,000 yuan and asked me to handle a portion of the work.

To familiarize myself with the case, I made an appointment with the company boss, Afu. I visited his office, where we talked alone. After we talked, he opened a drawer and took out a stack of money. He handed it to me, saying it was a special bonus. I estimated it to be 20,000 yuan. It was tempting.

Not knowing whether he truly wanted to give me the money, I politely told him there was no need. He insisted and pushed the money into my hand. Just as I was about to accept it, I suddenly remembered what Master said:

“I’m a practitioner. How can I go for such a thing? How much de must I give away if I get something that isn’t paid for?” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun)

I quickly returned the money to Afu and said, “You paid the attorney’s fees to the law firm. I cannot take more of your money. Don’t worry, I will do my best for the case.” After I continued refusing, Afu gave up.

Because of his poor health, Afu asked his son to handle the litigation on his behalf. He did not know that his son was a gambler and was deeply in debt. The son had asked him for money and was angry when his father refused. One day, he told Afu that I said we needed 200,000 yuan to bribe the judge handling the case. Afu believed him and gave his son 200,000 yuan to give to me.

His son asked a friend to impersonate me and call to say I was out of the office. The caller said I arranged for a colleague to meet with them. The son’s friend pretended to be my colleague, met with them downstairs at the law firm, and took the 200,000 yuan.

The partner in charge of the case asked whether I received Afu’s money. When I said no, he asked Afu to come to the law firm to discuss the issue in person. When he learned that I hadn’t made the phone call or asked anyone to go downstairs to accept the money, Afu called his son to ask what was going on. His son insisted that I called and asked my colleague to get the money.

My partner suggested calling the police. Afu thought about it but decided against it. He told my partner that he believed me, “She refused to take money when I offered it to her in private. She would not try to cheat me.”

Things were settled, but I was shaken. If I had taken Afu’s money when he first offered it, even if it were proven that I did not take the 200,000 yuan, I would have been punished and my reputation would be ruined for accepting the secret bonus.

Truly Considering Clients and Resolving Disputes Properly

Dawei contacted me and said he and a friend had co-invested and founded a company. A few months later, his friend wanted to withdraw from the joint venture. They agreed on the terms and signed an agreement. Dawei paid his friend millions of yuan, and the withdrawal procedures were completed.

However, his friend suddenly changed his mind, claiming that Dawei frequently transferred money into his own account while managing the company. The friend demanded another large sum from Dawei, or else he would sue him for embezzlement. Dawei felt this was unfair and wanted to file a counterclaim and charge his former partner with extortion.

After studying the case carefully, I found that both parties had flaws. Suing would result in mutual damage to both parties. I explained the potential adverse effects to Dawei, but he angrily said, “I’m not afraid. I have connections in the police system. I would rather spend money on you and the police than give it to my partner.”

As a practitioner, I cannot disregard the client’s welfare just to earn a legal fee. I felt that Dawei was being influenced by Chinese Communist Party culture, so I referenced Dafa’s principles and traditional culture and reminded him of old Chinese sayings: “Harmony is most precious,” and, “It’s better to resolve grievances than create them.” Dawei gradually calmed down, and decided to negotiate with the other man. Ultimately, both parties made concessions and peacefully settled their disputes.

Later, Dawei told me that he knew many lawyers, and they all advised him to sue. I was the only one who thought of his actual wellbeing. I helped him avoid a protracted legal battle. We later learned that the other man was also planning to spend a lot of money and use his influence to do battle. After this incident, Dawei hired me as permanent legal counsel.

Having Compassion for People

A friend introduced Ms. Liu to me. Her husband had recently passed away in a traffic accident on his way to work. She and her newborn baby lived in difficult circumstances. They won the case related to the traffic accident, but the judgment was not enforced and they did not receive payment. She did not have a job. When she asked her husband’s former employer for compensation, they said the accident had nothing to do with them and refused to help.

Ms. Liu wanted me to help her sue the employer. However, due to regulations, the chances of winning were slim, and the process would be time consuming. Most lawyers would not want to take the case. I told her I was busy, and suggested she find someone else. She said she’d spoken to other lawyers, but no one wanted to take the case. She began crying. I thought, “I’m a practitioner and her situation is pitiful,” so I agreed to take the case.

I charged her the nominal lawyer’s fee. I contacted the employer, spoke to the government, and prepared the litigation documents. Ms. Liu introduced me to her father-in-law and asked me to include him in the case. I agreed.

Her father-in-law said he could not afford the lawyer’s fee and wanted me to take it out of the compensation if we won the case. The law firm did not agree, because it was too risky. Ms. Liu persuaded me to accept her as a guarantor. I trusted her and her father-in-law, so I convinced the law firm to agree to the arrangement.

After a lengthy and complex legal process, Ms. Liu and her father-in-law won more than 300,000 yuan in compensation. However, her father-in-law refused to pay the legal fee, and Ms. Liu also refused to pay. I was very upset. How could they be so ungrateful? The friend who introduced me to Ms. Liu suggested that I sue them.

I went home and calmed down. I studied the Fa for guidance. Master said,

“... our school of cultivation does not shun ordinary human society in cultivation, and neither does it avoid or run away from conflicts. In this complicated environment of everyday people, you should be clear-minded and knowingly lose in terms of interests. When your vested interest is snatched away by others, you will not go to compete and fight for it like others. With different xinxing interference, you will suffer losses. In this difficult environment, you will temper your will and improve your xinxing. Under the influence of different ill thoughts from everyday people, you will be able to reach above and beyond.” (Lecture Eight, Zhuan Falun)

I suddenly understood: This was an opportunity for me to improve. Why would I sue them? I couldn’t wait to thank them.

When the friend who introduced Ms. Liu to me later asked about the case, I said, “I practice Falun Dafa. I’ll let the matter run its natural course. Since Ms. Liu and her father-in-law don’t want to pay, I’ll just let it pass. They have their difficulties.” My friend sighed and said, “Falun Dafa is remarkable. Only practitioners can be like this and not care about money.”

Conclusion

I was kind-hearted when I was young. I gave beggars food and I wept when I heard how people suffered. I tried to be a good person and I did not fight back when I was bullied. After I had some negative experiences, my heart changed and ugly things gradually took root in me. I felt bad about this, but I was powerless to change. I searched for ways to return to kindness—I read books and tried various cultivation methods, but nothing helped.

After I began practicing Falun Dafa, I felt renewed and transformed! I found my true nature. Thank you, Master, for your boundless grace.

I will remain in my position as a lawyer and use every moment and opportunity to cultivate myself, do the three things well, and show people that Falun Dafa is good.