Expert: Lawyers should abide by law

Attorneys should not make use of legal cases to violate laws, and would be penalized for that in any country, a leading China studies expert said on Friday.

"Lawyers who stir up social activism step outside the boundaries of their profession," said Zheng Yongnian, director of the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore, adding that when these activities violate the country's laws, the law will punish them.

Zheng's comments come after Zhou Shifeng, a lawyer who formerly managed the Fengrui Law Firm in Beijing, was convicted on Thursday of subverting State power and sentenced to seven years in prison. Zhou pleaded guilty and told the court he would not appeal the ruling.