"My husband bought a house before marriage, do I have any rights?", "I don't have a stable income, can I win custody of my child?"... As soon as Wen Xiu started her daily livestream session, a barrage of questions poured in.

For three hours, the 32-year-old lawyer focused on resolving issues for strangers, analyzing risks, outlining options, and pointing out legal pitfalls. Off-screen, hundreds of others quietly watched.

Lawyer Wen Xiu has been conducting legal consultation livestreams on her personal page since 2021. *Photo: Wen Xiu*

Wen Xiu, based in Shanghai, specializes in family law and represents the burgeoning "online office" trend among Chinese lawyers. Platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu are becoming online "legal clinics," offering quick, low-cost consultation services.

"Young lawyers like me don't have the resources or client networks of previous generations," Wen said. After obtaining her practice certificate in 2020, she found that social media brought in a client base that would have taken years to build before. Currently, Wen's online clients outnumber her walk-in clients by five to one.

This trend reflects the bleak reality of the traditional legal profession. The number of lawyers in China has grown to 830,000 (an increase of over 10% annually), while the number of court cases rose by only 1% last year. This shrinking market share compels lawyers to compete for clients online.

This explains the extreme income disparity within China's legal sector. According to the Economic Research Institute (ERI), newly qualified lawyers often earn 5,000-8,000 yuan per month, comparable to or even less than a delivery driver or service staff in major cities.

Economic pressure has made an online presence a lifeline. According to the Douyin Legal White Paper 2025, over 80% of law firms on the platform reported that online marketing efforts increased their actual client base. Ren Chuanqian, a labor law specialist in Shanghai, stated that many small business owners sought his services after watching his online videos analyzing disputes.

Many Chinese lawyers offer free consultations via livestream and seek clients. *Photo: Douyin*

Mi Yanyan, a client, sought Wen's help when her marriage dissolved in early 2024. She happened upon a consultation video while browsing online, and Wen's calm demeanor and clear explanations convinced her. "Before, if you wanted to understand the law, you had to consult books or navigate the internet, which was full of risks," Mi said, deciding to hire Wen to represent her divorce case.

However, this boom also creates "gray areas" where the line between legal advice and entertainment gimmicks blurs.

To attract views, some lawyers create content that skirts legal boundaries, using provocative images or shocking scenarios. In fact, last September, an influencer named "Xilv" in Chengdu, with 140,000 followers, was exposed by authorities for impersonating a lawyer without a practice certificate.

Faced with this chaotic situation, social media platforms are tightening regulations. Douyin now requires users to submit practice certificates and law firm documents to livestream on legal topics.

Lawyer Ren remarked that despite following trends, professional integrity remains the core of the profession. "Many use humor or gimmicks to attract viewers, but that's not appropriate for a lawyer. Serious clients will choose someone with expertise and trustworthiness," he stated.

This trend also reshapes how young lawyers choose their career paths. Instead of generalizing, they are compelled to specialize deeply in niches such as marriage, labor, or inheritance to build a clearer personal brand online.

Minh Phuong (According to Sixth Tone)