Lighter Side: Moral quandary in Chinese bar exam

Question: Would you save your girlfriend or your mother from a burning building?

Choosing between saving your girlfriend or mother from a burning building is a moral quandary most would not expect to encounter in their day-to-day lives.

But, if you’re a Chinese judge, you’re expected to know the correct answer.

According to Above the Law, that questions was on this year’s National Judicial Examination - essentially the bar exam for Chinese judges. 

So what is the correct answer? The Chinese Ministry of Justice posted it recently. From BBC: 

“[E]xam writers are duty-bound to save their mothers. It would be a “crime of non-action” to choose romantic love over filial duty.”

That is in contrast to our common law system, where we generally don’t criminally punish people for a failure to act or omission.

Recent articles & video

Baker McKenzie boosts Los Angeles team with transactional lawyers from Munger, Tolles & Olson

AI legal risk company spins off from DC law firm to address emerging challenges

Paul Hastings bolsters private equity practice with new team led by Alexander Temel

Tamboran Resources taps SPB for advice on first long-term gas sales agreement

First Racial Justice Conference in Australia zooms in on invisible race discrimination

US law firm settles copyright lawsuit over alleged court filing plagiarism

Most Read Articles

Top young stars of Australia's legal profession for 2024 unveiled

Promotions round beefs up Clyde & Co's Australia partnership

Allens welcomes five new partners

Tech and IP stars join up with Allen & Overy