In China, one former reporter’s journey from journalism to law

More law reporters are joining the legal profession to push for greater journalistic transparency as they grow increasingly frustrated with the government’s tightening grip on the media industry. Beijing-based criminal attorney Wang Dianxue is one of them. He speaks to Keira Lu Huang on the mainland's legal reform, lawyers’ working conditions and his ambition to set up an information-sharing platform for reporters and lawyers.

After 15 years in legal reporting, what motivated you to make the move in 2015?

I’m not that kind of reporter with a big journalism goal. With the limits of practising journalism on the mainland and seeing more young reporters joining the industry, I felt tired. Journalists today are no longer like those in the 1990s. It was a glamorous job back then. I also wanted to challenge myself in a new area.

How did you make the move?

As a legal reporter, I had a broad view of the legal society but did not have enough in-depth knowledge. My first attempt at the law exam was in 2002, but I failed. In 2008, for half a year, I spent more than 10 hours every day studying for the exam before I finally passed it. I studied in the subway, on the road, at home, staying up till 2 or 3am daily. It was tough as I was also working; so many times, I thought of giving up. Passing that exam gave me the certificate required to work as an intern lawyer in a law firm. I received a lot of training that year.

How is life now?