China's top watchdog for quality swore in 30 public service lawyers on Thursday to facilitate the nation's efforts in strengthening the administration of law at Party and government organizations.
The attorneys are the first to be recruited by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
In a ceremony at the administration's auditorium, Zhao Dacheng, vice-minister of justice, issued the lawyers qualification certificates. The event is seen as a significant step in building teams of legal professionals at Party organs and government bodies.
In China, public service attorneys must pass the National Judicial Examination and are appointed by their workplaces. The appointments are then approved by the Ministry of Justice.
The system started in 2002 after the ministry issued a regulation to introduce full-time, public sector lawyers in selected regions. However, the system is not compulsory for most Party and government organizations.
By the end of last year, China had about 6,800 public service lawyers, accounting for 2.5 percent of all lawyers in the country, Zhao said at the ceremony.
He said there is an urgent need for Party committees at various levels and government departments to have their own full-time lawyers to solve administrative disputes.
"Last year there was an unprecedented increase in the number of legal counsel at Party organs," he said. "At least 10 Party committees at the provincial level have established legal teams."
Compared with a private law firm, the full-time service of the public service lawyers will provide comprehensive legal services at their workplaces, including consultation, negotiation and coordination.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has a major role in law enforcement, said Mei Kebao, deputy director of the administration.
He added that the newly appointed lawyers will greatly help with law enforcement.
"Our priority is to provide legal consultation for decision-makers, and explain the situation to the public when the administration is involved in legal disputes," Liu Li, a public service lawyer for the general administration, said when she was sworn in.
Liu said public service lawyers will be more involved in solving disputes between the administration and the public or other entities before a dispute reaches court.
zhang_yi@chinadaily.com.cn
