Chen Guangcheng is a blind, self-educated lawyer from Shandong. Mr. Chen began taking on politically sensitive cases in 1998, including defending the economic rights of farmers, the rights of the disabled, and reproductive rights. As a result of his work, he has been illegally detained; convicted on the basis of fabricated charges; and subjected to harsh extra-judicial measures.

Dr. Fan Yafeng has contributed to the advancement of rule of law through his legal scholarship on constitutional issues and religious freedom. As a result of Dr. Fan's legal work supporting religious freedom, he has been fired from his job, detained and interrogated, and subjected to surveillance and varying degrees of house arrest.

Gao Zhisheng, once recognized by the Ministry of Justice as “one of the country’s 10 best lawyers," has paid a high price for activism. Mr. Gao has been repeatedly been "disappeared," surfacing first to describe being tortured, and then again to announce he would no longer pursue rights advocacy. In April 2010, he once again went missing; authorities deny he is in custody.

Jiang Tianyong specializes in cases concerned with religious persecution. His clients have included Buddhist leaders, Falun Gong practitioners, and Uyghur activists. As a result of his activism, Mr. Jiang has been denied client access; placed under surveillance; had his license suspended; undergone detention and interrogation; and most recently been "disappeared" for two months.

Li Subin is a lawyer from Henan who first ran afoul of authorities by suing Henan officials for arbitrarily collecting lawyer registration fees. His license was retaliatorily suspended; although he sued and won the right for reinstatement, he has been unable to force reissuance of his licence. As a result, Mr. Li now works as a legal administrator.

Li Fangping, a Beijing lawyer, has defended AIDS activists, victims of tainted milk, political protestors, and other defense attorneys, as well as litigating on behalf of the public regarding utilities and internet filtering software. As a result of Mr. Li's advocacy, he has been subjected to intrusive surveillance, detained, interrogated, beaten, and prevented from pursuing "sensitive" cases. Most recently, Mr. Li was abducted outside of his offices; his current whereabouts are unknown.

Li Xiongbing is a Beijing-based lawyer who has been prominent in seeking to promote the rule of law in China. As a result of his work representing “sensitive cases,” including Falun Gong practitioners, Mr. Li has effectively been disbarred. He has also been subjected to repeated episodes of surveillance and house arrest, and his right to travel has been restricted.

Li Heping, a Beijing-based lawyer, began his career as a specialist in intellectual property law. Over time, he has taken on more controversial clients, including Falun Gong practitioners, environmentalists, house Christians, and other defense lawyers. His work representing controversial clients has resulted in his being kidnapped, beaten, threatened, and having his license to practice law suspended for six months.

Liu Wei has had her license permanently revoked as a result of her advocacy on behalf of politically-sensitive clients. Ms. Wei has represented Falun Gong practitioners; victims of illegal land requisition and home demolition; people discriminated against for having HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis B; parents of the victims of melamine-tainted milk powder; and fellow rights defense lawyers.

Mo Shaoping, a Beijing-based lawyer, is founder of the Mo Shaoping Law firm. His work has included defending dissidents, labor activists, and Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, the imprisoned co-author of Charter 08. Mr. Mo has repeatedly had his access to clients blocked, as well as being subjected to surveillance, soft detention, and having restrictions placed on his ability to travel.

Ni Yulan is a Beijing-based tenant-rights legal activist who has spent over a decade defending the rights of clients subjected to forced evictions. In the process, she has been arrested, convicted, crippled, disbarred, and left homeless herself after the unlawful destruction of her home. Ms. Ni and her husband were seized by police in April of 2011.

Pu Zhiqiang is best known as a pioneering free-speech lawyer. The clients he has defended against defamation lawsuits have included literary critics sued by writers; periodicals sued by corporations and tycoons; and authors and activists sued by government officials. As a result of his efforts, he has been detained, interrogated, and had his representation of clients severely compromised.

Tang Jitian has represented Falun Gong practitioners; victims of illegal land requisitions; those suffering from HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis B; and parents of children harmed in the melamine-tainted milk scandal. In response to Mr. Tang’s work, both his personal license and his firm license have been revoked. On Feb. 16, 2011, Mr. Tang was taken into secret detention; before being released to strict house arrest on March 5, he was brutally tortured.

Tang Jingling was a lawyer at the Huazhijie Law Firm prior to losing his license to practice in 2006. His clients have included villagers combating corruption; victims of counterfeit medicine and vaccinations; uncompensated victims of land grabs; and arrested rights defenders. Since disbarment, Mr. Tang has become a leading proponent of non-violent civil disobedience in China.

Dr. Teng Biao is a Beijing-based lawyer and university lecturer. Dr. Teng has represented AIDS activists, Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetan protesters, and farmers fighting land seizures. His advocacy has resulted in his being subject to surveillance, threats, house arrest, disbarment, and being "disappeared." He was released after two months of detention on Friday, April 29, 2011.

Yuan Xianchen is a "barefoot lawyer" based in Heilongjiang. Mr. Yuan's clients have included farmers, miners, and other impoverished and exploited citizens in Jixi City. As a result of his advocacy, Mr. Yuan has been subjected to harassment, detention, beatings, and prosecution. He is currently serving a four year sentence for subversion, during which he has been denied visitation from his family.

Zheng Enchong represented the injured parties in over 500 cases of forced eviction stemming from urban redevelopment in Shanghai, after which his license to practice was revoked. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment on charges of providing state secrets to foreigners. Since his release, he has been subject to strict, on-going surveillance, and physical abuse.