London: BACA Global Programs and Communications Manager Hannah Chowdhry recently spent two months in Shanghai, China, undertaking an internship at Jiehua Law Firm.

Having graduated with a Law degree from the University of Aberdeen in July, Hannah was given the opportunity to gain valuable practical experience within a busy Chinese law firm.

With a particular interest in criminal justice and international legal issues, the placement allowed her to observe how lawyers prepare cases, communicate with clients and work within a legal system very different from that of the UK, while developing skills that she hopes to bring back to her work supporting persecuted Christians through the British Asian Christian Association (BACA).

Learning at Jiehua Law Firm

Shanghai Jiehua Law Firm was established in 1994 and has developed into a comprehensive law firm providing legal services across a wide range of areas. The firm now has more than 150 professionals, including more than 50 partners. Its work covers areas including criminal defence, civil and commercial disputes, cross-border legal affairs, cybersecurity and data compliance, intellectual property and other specialist areas of law.

During her two-month internship, Hannah was able to gain first-hand insight into the practical work of lawyers.

She observed meetings with clients, helping her understand how lawyers identify the key facts of a case and communicate legal issues to those seeking advice. She also helped to organise evidence and analyse cases, considering which areas of Chinese legislation could apply to particular circumstances.

One particularly valuable aspect of the placement was learning how Chinese legal databases are used to research previous cases and legal materials. Hannah was able to investigate previous decisions and identify cases that could assist lawyers with the matters they were working on.

She also gained experience in drafting lawyers’ opinions, developing her ability to take legal information and turn it into structured written analysis.

She had the opportunity to attend court and observe proceedings, giving her an insight into how the Chinese justice system operates in practice.

For Hannah, experiencing another country’s legal system was particularly valuable because it allowed her to compare what she was seeing in China with her knowledge of the UK legal system.

As part of her placement, she produced comparative legal research examining differences between the Chinese and UK legal systems. She also created templates to assist with cross-border communication, giving her experience of the practical challenges that can arise when legal professionals work across different jurisdictions.

The experience therefore provided more than an introduction to Chinese law. It developed Hannah’s ability to approach legal problems from an international perspective.

Bringing international legal skills back to BACA

The skills Hannah gained in Shanghai can also contribute to her work with BACA and its mission to support Christians facing persecution and discrimination in Pakistan.

BACA provides advocacy and support to persecuted Christians, including assistance with legal cases, forced marriage, blasphemy-related cases and other situations in which vulnerable Christians need protection and access to justice. The organisation has also contributed to UK Home Office guidance concerning Pakistani Christian asylum seekers.

Hannah’s experience researching legislation, analysing evidence, identifying relevant case law and comparing different legal systems can help her contribute to BACA’s research and communications work.

Her experience with cross-border legal communication is particularly relevant to an organisation such as BACA, which works between the UK and Pakistan and engages with international organisations, lawyers, campaigners and supporters.

Understanding how different legal systems operate can also help BACA communicate the experiences of persecuted Christians to wider audiences and highlight where legal protection may fail vulnerable communities.

Hannah’s reflections

“My two months at Jiehua Law Firm were an invaluable experience. I was able to see how lawyers work with clients, analyse evidence, research legislation and previous cases, prepare legal opinions and experience court proceedings first-hand. Comparing the Chinese legal system with the UK system also gave me a much broader understanding of how different legal systems approach justice and legal problems.

“I am particularly grateful for the opportunity because I can now take these skills and apply them to my work with BACA. The experience has strengthened my ability to conduct legal research, communicate across different cultures and jurisdictions, and understand complex cases from an international perspective. I hope to use what I have learned to help BACA continue growing its work in support of persecuted Christians in Pakistan and to ensure their experiences receive the attention and advocacy they deserve.

“I would also like to sincerely thank everyone who donated and supported me in making this opportunity possible. Your generosity enabled me to undertake an experience that has developed me both personally and professionally, and I hope the skills I gained will ultimately benefit BACA and the communities we serve.”

Thank you to our supporters

BACA would like to extend its sincere thanks to the donors and supporters who helped make Hannah’s international legal placement possible.

Opportunities such as this allow young people involved with BACA to develop practical skills and bring new knowledge, perspectives and expertise back into the charity’s work.

For Hannah, the experience in Shanghai was not simply an opportunity to study another legal system. It was an opportunity to develop skills that can be put towards advocacy, research, legal communication and support for vulnerable Christians facing persecution.