Encounters with Alumni from Greater China
Oxford In China > Featured Alumni Profiles > Mimi Zou
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Prof. Mimi Zou (Christ Church/St. John’s, 2010) received her BCL and DPhil degrees from the University of Oxford. At Oxford, she was a Commonwealth Scholar and James Fairfax Oxford-Australia Scholar. She was formerly Junior Dean of St John's College - and the best-performing female competitor at the Oxford-Cambridge Varsity powerlifting competition!
Mimi is currently Associate Director of the Centre for Rights and Justice and Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Law at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She researches and teaches in the areas of Chinese law, employment law, and contract law. Mimi has worked in legal practice, government, international organisations, and financial institutions in Asia-Pacific and Europe for over 13 years. She is a qualified Solicitor in England and Wales and New South Wales (Australia). Mimi’s work was recently recognised when she became a finalist for the Social Impact Award of the Education UK Alumni Awards 2016, organised by the British Council. |
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What impact did Oxford have on you? You previously worked for legal firms, government departments and financial institutions before joining the academic world. Was this change rooted in your Oxford experience?
My decision for a career change came about during my studies in Oxford. I had originally planned to study only for a one-year BCL degree before returning to full-time legal practice. During the BCL, I was exposed to the tutorial system and immensely enjoyed this weekly ritual of developing and giving my ideas to form arguments and having them challenged and continuously improved by world-class legal scholars. I became quite excited about an academic career in research and teaching — a career that is all about a life of learning. Of course, the temptation of 2-3 more years in Oxford on a full scholarship was too hard to resist.
Perhaps the most alluring aspects of becoming a legal scholar and teacher are the opportunities to contribute high-quality and evidence-based research to critical areas of public policy and to train young lawyers how to think critically and be interested in ideas. I have maintained limited and selective engagements of legal practice and policy consultancy alongside my day job as a law professor, which helps to ground my research in the real-world context as well as developing knowledge transfer activities with businesses, government, non-profits, and the general public.
My decision for a career change came about during my studies in Oxford. I had originally planned to study only for a one-year BCL degree before returning to full-time legal practice. During the BCL, I was exposed to the tutorial system and immensely enjoyed this weekly ritual of developing and giving my ideas to form arguments and having them challenged and continuously improved by world-class legal scholars. I became quite excited about an academic career in research and teaching — a career that is all about a life of learning. Of course, the temptation of 2-3 more years in Oxford on a full scholarship was too hard to resist.
Perhaps the most alluring aspects of becoming a legal scholar and teacher are the opportunities to contribute high-quality and evidence-based research to critical areas of public policy and to train young lawyers how to think critically and be interested in ideas. I have maintained limited and selective engagements of legal practice and policy consultancy alongside my day job as a law professor, which helps to ground my research in the real-world context as well as developing knowledge transfer activities with businesses, government, non-profits, and the general public.
Interviewing elderly in Hong Kong
Speaking to elderly in Hong Kong about income security
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You received the CUHK Faculty of Law’s inaugural Innovation in Teaching Award in 2015 with your project on “Law and Ethics in an Ageing Society”. What is the project about and how did you come up with this idea?
Like many other countries in the world, Hong Kong is confronted with a myriad of policy challenges against the backdrop of a rapidly ageing society. The number of older persons aged 65 and over currently stands at 1 million people or 13% of the population. By 2041, this is projected to rise to 2.6 million people or 30% of the projected population. My project on the ‘Law and Ethics in an Ageing Society’ is a comprehensive study of the most pertinent, intersecting legal and ethical issues facing our ageing population in Hong Kong, while drawing on international and comparative perspectives. These issues include: ageism and legal protections offered against age discrimination; regulatory issues around work and retirement in an ageing society; guardianship law and practice; the law governing substitute decision making; advance directives and end-of-life issues; wills and inheritance; regulation of long-term care and support; legal protections against elder abuse; and equal access to justice for older persons. The research findings will be published in a monograph and turned into the first course on ‘Elder Law’ offered by any law school in Hong Kong. Most importantly, the project has a strong knowledge transfer and social impact component which involves a range of capacity building activities for professionals such as social workers, medical, health care professionals and administrators and other stakeholders working with elderly persons in Hong Kong to enhance their knowledge of the legal issues that are relevant for their work and of the ethical values deemed to be critical to older persons such as dignity, autonomy, quality of life, and protection from abuse and exploitation. |
We understand that you are passionate about training the next generation of young lawyers in Hong Kong and China to be socially conscious thinkers and leaders. What advice would you give to young lawyers in Hong Kong and China?
To quote a prominent Western political philosopher of the 20th century, Prof. Michael Oakeshott: “The rule of law bakes no bread, it is unable to distribute loaves or fishes (it has none), and it cannot protect itself against external assault, but it remains the most civilized and least burdensome conception of a state yet to be devised.”
At the core of our profession is an ethic of social responsibility to respect and stand up for the rule of law in everything that we do. This is not only about devoting time to pro bono causes and acting as the voice for the voiceless in society, but also having the courage and integrity to sometimes say ‘no’ to the clients you advise and represent and always appreciate the public consequences of your actions.
To quote a prominent Western political philosopher of the 20th century, Prof. Michael Oakeshott: “The rule of law bakes no bread, it is unable to distribute loaves or fishes (it has none), and it cannot protect itself against external assault, but it remains the most civilized and least burdensome conception of a state yet to be devised.”
At the core of our profession is an ethic of social responsibility to respect and stand up for the rule of law in everything that we do. This is not only about devoting time to pro bono causes and acting as the voice for the voiceless in society, but also having the courage and integrity to sometimes say ‘no’ to the clients you advise and represent and always appreciate the public consequences of your actions.
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What did you enjoy most about your experience in Oxford? How did it shape you as an individual?
It is rather difficult to pinpoint the most enjoyable aspect of my Oxford experience – there are so many to choose from! What I can say is that my experience in Oxford has had an immeasurable impact on my professional and personal development. I was tutored and mentored by the most brilliant legal minds in the world. The intellectual stimulation that I experienced in Oxford was transformative and inspired me to pursue a new career in academia. My time in Oxford also saw tremendous personal growth as I developed greater self-confidence and a much more global outlook. |
Oxford vs Cambridge Powerlifting Varsity
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The college community provided the ideal environment for making friends from different disciplines and from around the world, especially in my roles as Social Secretary of the GCR at Christ Church and as Junior Dean at St John’s College. I also became involved with running the Oxford University Australia & New Zealand Society and embarking on an amateur powerlifting career (with the unexpected feat of being best-performing female competitor at the Oxford-Cambridge Varsity). I gained from my Oxford education a passion for lifelong learning and never-ending curiosity about the world.
What do you hope to accomplish in the near future?
To return to Oxford as often as I can! I spent some of the happiest days (and years) of my life in the City of Dreaming Spires. It has a very special place in my heart (and I am sure, in the hearts of our alumni)!
March 2016
To return to Oxford as often as I can! I spent some of the happiest days (and years) of my life in the City of Dreaming Spires. It has a very special place in my heart (and I am sure, in the hearts of our alumni)!
March 2016