College grads ready to help hard of hearing

Sign language lessons enable lawyers to assist special groups

Thirty-eight college students who are proficient in both law and sign language recently completed their undergraduate studies in Chongqing. As new forces in China's efforts to improve social justice and human rights protection, these rare graduates are poised to become lawyers who can provide public legal services for the deaf and hard of hearing.

"These interdisciplinary and applied legal talent could offer public legal services with their 'speaking hands' for the special group," said Zhang Wei, professor at the Administrative Law School of the Southwest University of Political Science and Law, and head teacher of the university's Experimental Class of Outstanding Public Legal Service Talent, where the graduates studied.

"Moreover, their services will also be expanded to cover other vulnerable groups such as low-income people, migrant workers, the elderly and adolescents."