Lin Lihong is an expert on administrative procedure and administrative remedies, and had taught these subjects as a professor at Wuhan University School of Law for many years. However, when the famous human rights scholar Wan Exiang invited her to volunteer at the recently founded Center for the Protection of the Rights of Disadvantaged Citizens (CPRDC) in 1994, she realized the opportunity to put her theoretical expertise to practical daily use in the representation of citizens suffering from administrative abuses.

Currently, Ms. Lin serves as the Executive Director of CPRDC. With nearly 15 years of experience, CPRDC is the oldest officially-registered non-governmental organization in China, and has become one of the leading legal service and public interest law organizations throughout the country. Since its inception the Center has received more than 50,000 visitors and 30,000 inquiries by telephone, and has replied to more than 21,000 letters by post and more than 1000 online inquiries. The Center’s staff has taken nearly 2000 cases, with positive results in over 75% of these matters. Housed at Wuhan University Law School, the Center comprises departments serving women, children, senior citizens, urban and rural poor and plaintiffs in administrative litigation. The Center relies on law school resources -- including faculty and students -- in the implementation of its work, and it has developed a unique model of clinical legal education to promote practical training and public interest lawyering among the young legal minds of China.

Through fifteen years of service CPRDC’s mission, "Upholding Justice, Defending the Rule of Law and Caring for the Public", has remained central, as has its motto to "provide the most helpful service by the most qualified experts to those most in need." Under Lin Lihong’s leadership, the Center is currently refocusing its work to engage more effectively in strategic litigation, in order to complement its traditional focus on direct legal services. While a Fellow at PILI, Ms. Lin concentrated on the development of a project entitled "Increasing Access to Legal Aid in China". Upon returning to CPRDC and taking the lead as the Center’s director, Ms. Lin has brought this goal into reality. Still, there is much work to be done.

Regarding the growing field of public interest law in China, Ms. Lin affirms: "China is a country under development. We have achieved great progress, but we also face many challenges. Chinese society is now in transition. We require the further development of civil society to support our continued progress."

For more Fellows Profiles, and to learn more about the Fellowship Program, please visit the program website, http://www.pilifellows.net/