Ex-Security Guard Becomes Lawyer After 10 Years Of Self-Study

A former security guard at China's Peking University has become a lawyer. Liu Zheng spent ten years auditing law courses at the university and collected discarded textbooks from students to teach himself, according to a report in the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

The 33-year-old grew up in a rural family in Hebei province. During his graduation in automobile support engineering, he took on multiple jobs to support himself, including working at construction sites, helping at a barber shop and even handing out flyers.

Unsatisfied with his graduation programme, he aimed to become a lawyer. After his graduation in 2015, he got a job as a security guard at Peking University. However, he frequently felt inferior because, as a security guard, he was not permitted to access the library or eat free meals at the university canteen.

Determined to prove himself, he began preparing for the law exam while also pursuing a part-time master's degree at Renmin University of China.

Mr Zheng moved from his job as a security guard to the law school's front desk in 2021, where he handled packages, conducted security patrols, and registered visitors. There he met law students who helped him with legal topics. Professors also supported him by providing textbooks and inviting him to audit courses.

Professor Zhang Shuanggen once wrote in a textbook he gave to Liu, "May you become a confident and elegant lawyer."

After failing the national legal professional qualification exam five times since 2016, he finally cleared it in 2022.

"I truly believe people are willing to help those who are motivated. Peking University is like fertile soil, and we are all seeds. My start was humble, but I am determined to keep pushing forward," Mr Zheng said.

He has now joined Beijing Weiheng Law Firm, one of the top law firms in the city. "Fighting for fairness and justice, the excitement I feel is just beyond words!" he said.