On July 4, 2026, the 15th Annual Han Kun Youth Legal Scholarship Final Examination and Award Ceremony was successfully held in the Shanghai office of Han Kun Law Offices ("Han Kun"). The event, launched at the beginning of this year, attracted the active participation of law students from universities and colleges across China. An internal panel comprising well-known law school professors and Han Kun partners conducted a rigorous and professional evaluation of the candidates following multiple rounds of selection, which included the review of written materials and a preliminary examination. In the end, Li Yijia from China University of Political Science and Law, Ma Yifan from Peking University, Shen Yue from Fudan University, Yue Lizi from Renmin University of China, and Zhang Shuobin from East China University of Political Science and Law stood out as the winners of the 2026 Han Kun Youth Legal Scholarship (RMB 100,000 each). Another five students received honorary awards (RMB 10,000 each).
Mr. Dong Shiwen, a partner and member of Han Kun's Executive Committee, hosted this year's award ceremony. He extended a warm welcome to all guests and young scholars present: "It is a great pleasure to gather here with you all for the 15th Han Kun Youth Legal Scholarship award ceremony. We thank the professors for serving as judges of this year's scholarship despite their busy schedules, and we also thank the students for their attention and support for the Han Kun Youth Legal Scholarship."
List of scholarship winners and honorary award winners (in alphabetical order by surname)
Scholarship Winners
Li Yijia
Li Yijia holds a LL.M degree from the University of Oxford and a LL.B degree from the China University of Political Science and Law. She is about to pursue a PhD in Law at the University of Oslo, focusing on the role of pro bono services in commercial law firms in cross-border climate and human rights advocacy. In her spare time, she loves musicals and hiking. She believes that the Han Kun Scholarship is not only financial encouragement but also reflects a deep commitment to international rule of law and public welfare. The selection process itself is a valuable dialogue for self-reflection, introspection, and exchange with senior professionals. She is greatly encouraged by Han Kun's recognition, which embodies Han Kun's long-termism philosophy of not seeking immediate returns and encouraging young legal professionals to explore diverse paths. In the future, she aspires to become a versatile professional with both academic vision and practical skills, aiming to engage in teaching and research in international law, collaborate closely with China's leading law firms, cultivate talent in international law and public interest law practice, and contribute to Chinese law firms' participation in global governance. She advises future applicants to move away from templates, be true to themselves, and find unique entry points to contribute to China's rule of law while deeply engaging in their areas of interest.
Ma Yifan
Ma Yifan earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Peking University. She was admitted to the joint LL.M. program between Georgetown University and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) in Geneva, where she received the Global Health Law Scholar Award. She enjoys raising cats and has a lovely white kitten at home. She is also passionate about hosting, recitation, and theater as forms of expressive art. Ma Yifan believes that Han Kun Scholarship's examination questions are rigorous and insightful, demonstrating that the scholarship not only assesses legal competence but also cultivates future leaders and thinkers. In the future, she hopes to research global public governance and equity issues, explore the intersection of law and social sciences, and examine China's local issues within the framework of comparative law and international law. At the same time, she aims to see the individual within the structure and become a rational yet compassionate legal professional. To students applying for the Han Kun Scholarship in the future, she says: Be bold, step into the center of the stage, face yourself, and express yourself sincerely; this in itself is invaluable.
Shen Yue
Shen Yue graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the Department of Macromolecular Science at Fudan University. He then pursued an LL.M. degree at the Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property, Tongji University, during which he also earned a Master of Science in Law (MSL) degree from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. This autumn, he will begin his Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Law at the University of Oxford. He enjoys reading, singing, and playing basketball. The Han Kun Scholarship has long been committed to fostering the growth of young legal professionals and advancing the rule of law in China. He sincerely thanks the Han Kun Scholarship for its recognition and expresses gratitude to the mentors, family, and peers who have supported and assisted him along the way. He is determined to transform this encouragement into motivation for his continued journey. In the future, he aspires to become an intellectual property scholar with both a science and engineering background and an international perspective, contributing to the development of China's intellectual property legal system. To future applicants, he says: May you all enjoy this journey, remain steadfast in your passion, strive for excellence, and write your own unique stories.
Yue Lizi
Yue Lizi graduated with a bachelor's degree from Renmin University of China and is about to pursue an LL.M. at Duke University in the United States. In her spare time, she enjoys theater performances and travel. To her, the Han Kun Youth Legal Scholarship is not only an encouragement for young legal professionals but also reflects a long-term commitment to China's rule of law and the cultivation of legal talent for international affairs. Being selected for this award is a great honor for Yue Lizi and has further strengthened her determination to pursue a legal career in mainland China. In the future, she hopes to regard winning the Han Kun Scholarship as a new starting point to continuously improve her professional capabilities. She plans to specialize in intellectual property, media, and technology, striving to become a dispute resolution lawyer with both an international perspective and local practical expertise. She also wants to say to future applicants: Treat the preparation for this scholarship as an opportunity to seriously answer the question, 'What kind of lawyer do I want to be?' Once this question is truly clarified, many choices will become more resolute.
Zhang Shuobin
Zhang Shuobin graduated with a bachelor's degree from East China University of Political Science and Law and is about to pursue a master's degree in International Law at Fudan University. He is passionate about mountaineering, skiing, and diving, having summited Mount Muztagh and been recognized as a National First-Class Athlete. He is also deeply concerned about the land beneath his feet, having conducted in-depth research on the caregiving labor of rural middle-aged and elderly women and participated in Public Interest Litigation practice. Zhang Shuobin believes that the Han Kun Youth Legal Scholarship encourages the "long-termism" of young legal professionals: it does not rely solely on quantifiable metrics but values the patience behind academic achievements and the choices reflected in one's resume. In the future, he aspires to become a transaction and compliance lawyer specializing in advanced technology and business innovation, a legal professional who combines institutional rationality with the ability to reconcile differences and respond to reality at the intersection of commercial and technological logic. He advises future applicants to embrace the courage to ask questions and enjoy the selection process itself.
Honorary Award Winners
Chen Nuo
Chen Nuo graduated from the Law School of Fudan University and is about to pursue a Master of Laws with a focus on International Law at Tsinghua University. As a member of the university choir, she enjoys singing, composing, and writing prose, and has long been dedicated to legal aid and grassroots legal education. In her view, the Han Kun Scholarship examines the transformation and development of a rule-of-law society from a higher dimension, guiding young scholars to reflect on real-world issues. Participating in the selection process is akin to a sincere 'self-dialogue,' serving not only as a review of her academic journey but also as a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas with peers and learn from senior mentors. She aspires to become a dispute resolution lawyer, leveraging her professional expertise and international perspective to effectively resolve various domestic and international commercial disputes for market entities amidst the wave of AI-driven digital transformation. For future applicants, she advises using the selection process to gain a comprehensive understanding of oneself, clarify strengths and passions through exploration, and forge a unique legal career path.
Guo Ruoyan
Guo Ruoyan graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of International Business and Economics and is set to pursue further studies at the Law School of Peking University. She enjoys dancing, playing the violin, and traveling. She believes that the Han Kun Youth Legal Scholarship represents the firm's dual recognition of young legal scholars' professional competence and humanistic values, highlighting Han Kun's strong sense of social responsibility. For her, participating in the selection process was an opportunity to reflect on her past, re-examine her original aspirations, and meet many like-minded peers who share her ideals of the rule of law, making the experience highly rewarding. She sincerely thanks Han Kun Law Offices for creating this platform for growth; this recognition will serve as motivation, urging her to remain rigorous in her academic pursuits and dedicated to helping others. She aspires to deeply engage in the legal profession, stay true to her original mission, and become a versatile legal professional with solid expertise, warmth, broad vision, and a strong sense of responsibility. For future applicants, she advises students to sincerely present themselves and courageously share their authentic growth stories.
He Mujin
He Mujin graduated with a bachelor's degree from China University of Political Science and Law and is about to pursue a Ph.D. in Economic Law at Renmin University of China. Beyond his academic pursuits, he enjoys music, photography, and cooking. He believes that the Han Kun Scholarship not only demonstrates Han Kun's responsibility and commitment to China's legal profession but also carries the expectations and wishes of senior legal professionals for young lawyers. Participating in this selection process has been an opportunity for him to reflect on his academic journey and look ahead to his life aspirations. He sincerely thanks the selection committee for their thoughtful arrangements and deep care over the years and hopes this honor will strengthen his resolve and direction for the future. Looking ahead, He Mujin aspires to become a legal scholar who remains true to his academic ideals and bravely embraces the mission of the times, contributing to the construction of a rule-of-law China. To future applicants, he encourages everyone to believe in themselves, dare to try, and discover their true passions!
Liu Zihan
Liu Zihan studied both her bachelor's and master's degrees at the Koguan Law School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and is about to pursue an LL.M. at Columbia University. After completing her studies abroad, she will return to Koguan to finish her LL.M. degree. She enjoys theater performance, aerobics, and music. She believes that the Han Kun Scholarship's evaluation criteria keenly capture the pulse of the times and encourage students to reflect on social issues. In the future, Liu Zihan aspires to become a competition law practitioner with both a comparative law perspective and a strong awareness of China-specific issues, rooted in mainland China, contributing to the improvement of competition law systems in China's digital economy era. To future applicants, she wants to say: Dare to try, find a direction you are passionate about and willing to deeply cultivate, and sincerely showcase your unique academic insights and enthusiasm for the legal profession.
Wei Lisi
Wei Lisi graduated from the School of Law at Beijing Foreign Studies University and has been recommended for admission to the Peking University School of Transnational Law. Her hobbies include binge-watching TV series, reading, dancing, and savoring gourmet food. In her view, the Han Kun Scholarship is not only an acknowledgment of academic achievement but also a value orientation that encourages young legal professionals to combine professional competence, practical spirit, and social responsibility. The selection process was also an opportunity for her to re-examine herself, reinforcing her original aspiration to respond to the needs of the times with professional expertise and dedicate herself to the field of transnational legal practice. She thanks Han Kun for building such a platform for young legal professionals to showcase themselves, exchange ideas, and grow, thereby encouraging and supporting more students with legal aspirations. Wei Lisi aspires to become a lawyer specializing in transnational dispute resolution. She hopes that in the future, she will not only safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of clients in cross-border litigation and international arbitration but also contribute the voice of Chinese legal professionals to the application, interpretation, and development of international legal rules. For students applying for the Han Kun Scholarship in the future, she encourages them not to limit their focus to textbooks and grades but to dare to step out of campus, understand law and feel society through practice, and cultivate the abilities of independent thinking and lifelong learning.
Mr. Kelvin Gao, Member of the Han Kun Management Committee and Director of the Executive Committee of the Shanghai Office, delivered remarks on behalf of Han Kun. He expressed gratitude to the professor judges for their rigorous scrutiny and fair evaluation, noting that this professionalism and rigor ensure the Han Kun Young Legal Scholarship consistently upholds its academic standards. Mr. Gao stated that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the scholarship. Fifteen years is not merely a time marker but a testament to the persistence of long-termism. As successive cohorts of students transition from campus to society and establish themselves in their respective fields, the significance of the scholarship continues to grow. He highlighted that, for over two decades, Han Kun has adhered to the philosophy of growing together with its clients, serving numerous leading enterprises in their overseas expansion and development, while continuously reshaping the business landscape and legal services themselves. Legal services are not just about providing a "legally correct answer"; they require understanding industrial logic, technological trends, and global rules to become long-term partners for clients. Regardless of how the era and technology evolve, solid judgment, broad vision, and the ability to understand business and people remain the core competencies for legal professionals. He extended his sincere congratulations to the ten award recipients, wishing them a steadier and farther journey ahead. He hopes they will become individuals who can both solve and understand problems, leaving their own mark in advancing the rule of law in China and supporting Chinese enterprises in their global expansion.
The judging panel congratulated the award recipients during the ceremony. Professor Luo Peixin, Vice President of East China University of Political Science and Law, delivered remarks as a representative of the judging panel. He first expressed the panel's gratitude to Han Kun for its unwavering commitment to long-termism over the past fifteen years, noting that Han Kun's investment in the growth of young legal talent extends beyond funding to include dedication and a profound understanding of talent development. He stated that from the initial screening through the interviews and exams to today's final evaluation, the ten students have already demonstrated exceptional excellence. While the panel faced a difficult decision between the Honorary Award and the ultimate winner, all three judges agreed that everyone is a winner, with no distinction in merit. Citing the traditional Chinese philosophy that 'the smallest has no interior, the greatest has no exterior,' he encouraged the students to transcend boundaries and continue growing. He also thanked Professor Du Yifang and Professor Guo Yanjun for their joint participation in the review process and urged the award recipients to uphold the legal pursuit of beauty and goodness, to look downward in their future journeys, focus on vulnerable groups, and practice the legal principle of 'protecting the greatest interests of the least advantaged.'
This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of the establishment of the Han Kun Young Legal Scholarship. Over the past fifteen years, the scholarship has brought together more than a hundred legal elites, witnessing generation after generation of young talents transition from campus to the broader realm of the rule of law. With the torch passed and renewed at fifteen, Han Kun hopes that all recipients will maintain their passion for and exploration of the law, continuously growing and breaking through in their future studies and legal practice. In the future, Han Kun will continue to join hands with law students and legal professionals to contribute its modest efforts to the enduring legacy of China's rule of law.
