Press Release

On July 6, 2023, the 12th Annual Han Kun Youth Legal Scholarship Final Examination and Award Ceremony was successfully held in the Beijing office of Han Kun Law Offices ("Han Kun"). The event, launched at the beginning of this year, attracted the active participation of law students in universities and colleges across China. After multiple rounds of selection, which included the review of written materials and a preliminary examination, an internal panel comprising well-known law school professors and Han Kun partners conducted a rigorous and professional evaluation. In the end, Guo Shengdong of Peking University, Liu Yishu of Peking University, Sun Lu of Tongji University, Yu Hongyun of Zhejiang University, and Zhang Xiaohan of Peking University stood out and won the 2023 Han Kun Youth Legal Scholarship (RMB100,000 for each winner). Another five students received honorary awards (RMB10,000 for each winner).

List of scholarship winners and honorary award winners (in in alphabetical order by surname)

Scholarship Winners

Guo Shengdong

Guo Shengdong received an LL.B. from China University of Political Science & Law, an LL.M. from Peking University, and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School. Mr. Guo likes writing and running and is also a veteran of podcasting. Mr. Guo believes that the Han Kun Scholarship reflects Han Kun's great importance and lasting investment in the cultivation of young legal talents, the building of a legal community, and the long-term development of the rule of law in China. The perfect blend of professionalism and humanity in the selection process has been impressive, according to Mr. Guo. In the future, his dream is to become a constitutional law researcher, using his own academic research and social services to promote the progress of the rule of law in China. Upon completion of his LL.M. studies, he intends to apply to continue to study for an SJD (Doctor of Laws) degree. For future applicants, he suggests that students do not have to use any "template of excellence" to constrain or belittle themselves, but to believe in themselves and dare to be themselves.

Liu Yishu

Liu Yishu received an LL.M. from Peking University and will attend Cambridge University. Ms. Liu is outgoing and likes photography and dancing. She believes that the Han Kun Scholarship is a very valuable, meaningful, and sentimental public service project. Not only does it provide financial support for young law students to pursue further education, but it also gathers excellent peers to encourage and promote students to achieve outstanding achievements in the field of law. Ms. Liu is very grateful to receive the selection committee's recognition. She said that it is not only an honor, but also a great encouragement and support. In the future, she hopes to become an influential legal professional and to make positive contributions to the development and progress of the international community and just governance through her professional knowledge and skills, as well as to promote international economic development and the rule of law and to inspire more visionary and socially responsible legal practitioners to use their professional knowledge, legal skills, and passion for life to contribute to the building of a better world.

Sun Lu

Sun Lu graduated from Tongji University Faculty of Law and will study at Oxford University. Ms. Sun was awarded the National Scholarship and Shanghai Outstanding Graduate for two years in a row. She also participated in the Vis Moot Mock Arbitration Competition many times and achieved excellent results. Ms. Sun has a wide range of interests, including sports and travel. She said that during the selection process, she deeply felt Han Kun's sense of social responsibility and its ardent expectations for young lawyers to combine knowledge and action to give back to the community. In response to this call, she aspires to become a corporate lawyer with an international perspective. She plans to expand her legal vision to corporate management and market operation through the MLF program in law and finance and, in the future, to use what she has learned to help her clients solve corporate governance problems and to make modest contributions to the development of the rule of law with her passion for the law. For Ms. Sun, applying for the Han Kun Scholarship was a means of looking back and looking toward the future. She hopes that future applicants will also be able to participate and try their best.

Yu Hongyun

Yu Hongyun received an LL.B. from Zhejiang University, attended the Intensive Class in Innovation and Entrepreneurship Management, Zhu Kezhen College and received an LL.D. (Honors) from Australian National University and a Ph.D. in jurisprudence from Zhejiang University. Mr. Yu will attend Oxford University for further study. Mr. Yu's hobbies are cooking, theater, and writing. He has also started a business as a screenwriter, artist, and actor in microfilms. Mr. Yu believes that Han Kun's strong support for the scholarship program underscores the concern of one of China's top international law firms has for real issues in China. The Han Kun Scholarship Committee's support and concern for diversity and complex social issues shows the foresight of lawyers for the future of society. In the future, Mr. Yu hopes to be a kind person with a clear conscience and no regrets. His career plan is to become a Chinese legal researcher, reform participant, and case promoter who will promote the rights and interests of marginalized groups and make society a better place. For future applicants, he suggests that students make early preparations and dare to dream!