Intro -- Foreword -- Preface -- Contents -- About the Author -- Abbreviations -- 1 Some Basic Concepts and Systems -- 1.1 China's Court System-Magnificent 4-Level Pyramid -- 1.1.1 The 4-Level System of Chinese Courts -- 1.1.2 The Classification of Chinese Courts -- 1.1.3 Separate Functions of Courts at All Levels -- 1.2 China's Hierarchical Trial System for Civil Cases-2 + 1 + 1 -- 1.2.1 Most Cases Are Closed After the Second Instance -- 1.2.2 Simple and Small Claim Cases Are Closed After the First Instance -- 1.2.3 After the Final Trial of a Case, the Parties May also Apply for Retrial -- 1.2.4 After the Application for Retrial Is Dismissed, the Parties May also Apply to the Procuratorate for Case Review -- 1.2.5 After the End of the "2 + 1 + 1" Procedure, the Parties May Still Be Entitled to Petition in Theory -- 1.2.6 Cases that Are not Subject to the "2 + 1 + 1" Procedure -- 1.3 Case Numbering System of Chinese Courts-"Secret Signal" in Case Number -- 1.3.1 Basic Format of Case Number -- 1.3.2 Compilation Rules for Court Codes -- 1.3.3 Compilation Rules for Case Type Codes -- 1.4 Cause of Action-Index List of Chinese Case Classification -- 1.4.1 The Development of Cause of Action in Civil Cases -- 1.4.2 How to Determine the Cause of Action in the Case -- 1.4.3 Functions of the Cause of Action -- 1.5 How Do Chinese Courts Charge-Court Costs -- 1.5.1 Fee Rates of Chinese Courts -- 1.5.2 Special Circumstances of Fee Reduction/Exemption -- 1.5.3 Payment Time and Method -- 1.5.4 The Court Costs Shall Be Borne by the Losing Party -- 1.6 General Process of Civil Litigation in China -- 1.7 Chinese Lawyers in Civil Litigation -- 1.7.1 Formulating Evidence Presentation Strategies Is One of the Core Tasks of Chinese Lawyers -- 1.7.2 Chinese Lawyers Can Investigate and Collect Evidence on the Strength of a Court Investigation Order.
