On the evening of June 22nd, I attended the 2024 undergraduate graduation party at the Intellectual Property and Law School of Foshan University, invited by the university faculty.

This was my fourth or fifth time attending this event, mainly because even after graduating, I have maintained some connections with the university faculty through work, such as inviting professors to give lectures or seeking their help with research projects. Perhaps for convenience, they invited me, an ordinary alumnus, to participate.

Experiences from Past Graduation Parties

From what I recall, there wasn’t a formal “graduation party” when I graduated (though I might be mistaken, as I have no memory of it). It wasn’t until after 2016 that I started attending these events as an alumnus. These parties were always held at off-campus hotels, likely because the university had sufficient funding, and hosting them off-campus created a more relaxed atmosphere. I attended mainly to give my child a glimpse of university life and broaden their horizons.

Expectations as an Alumnus

Every time I attend this event, I feel compelled to share some thoughts with the graduating students, even though it might not make much difference.

Hope Everyone Stays True to the Spirit of Law

My own experience and that of my classmates serve as a clear example. When I graduated, law was considered a “red card” major in terms of employment prospects nationwide, and it wasn’t highly regarded. Most of my classmates didn’t pursue careers in law after graduation. However, it later became evident that those who stuck with legal careers generally found better opportunities and growth, while those who switched fields often faced numerous challenges. Many ended up returning to law after three, five, or even ten years, missing the golden period for career development. Still, it was better than struggling in other industries.

After graduating, I switched to the IT industry. As a non-specialist on the fringes of the field, I quickly realized the harsh realities of IT outsourcing and promptly returned to legal work, which has since provided me with a more stable life.

Hope Everyone Contributes to the Legal and Political System

Our school was once called the “School of Political Science and Law.” Due to adjustments in the university’s direction, liberal arts programs were significantly reduced, and the school was merged into the School of Economics and Management. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that it regained independence as the “Intellectual Property and Law School,” enrolling only 50 students in 2023, making it the smallest school at Foshan University. The “political and legal system” holds special significance in China, encompassing courts, procuratorates, public security, judicial administration, legal research, and legal education. Broadly speaking, lawyers, notaries, and arbitration are also part of this system.

The political and legal system enjoys a somewhat transcendent status within the state system, particularly in terms of job security, benefits, and career advancement, making it a worthwhile lifelong pursuit.

Hope Everyone Finds Employment Soon

In recent years, the national employment situation has been challenging, leaving many graduates feeling lost and unsure of how to proceed. From my observations, Foshan, as a major hub for private enterprises, offers relatively better employment prospects for law graduates compared to other prefecture-level cities. Government recruitment alone provides significant opportunities. However, many graduates tend to focus solely on civil service positions or jobs in the city center, overlooking opportunities in suburban areas, towns, and villages, thus missing out on many job openings. Additionally, in the legal profession, given the small number of law graduates from Foshan University, even if all of them entered the legal field, it wouldn’t significantly impact the market, which currently has nearly 4,000 lawyers in Foshan. In reality, Foshan University alumni make up less than 5% of the city’s lawyers.

The legal profession in Foshan offers decent income levels, with high cost-effectiveness compared to other liberal arts or even some science and engineering fields. However, due to persistent information asymmetry, more alumni support and guidance are needed to address the current employment challenges.