(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-28 18:47

BEIJING - China has enacted the Lawyers Law and established attorney system and judicial examination system, says a white paper published by the Information Office of China's State Council on Thursday.

"Anyone who applies to become a professional practitioner must pass the state standard judicial examination first", says the paper, entitled China's Efforts and Achievements in Promoting the Rule of Law.

The paper emphasizes that those would-be lawyers must endorse China's Constitution and complete a 12-month internship in a law firm before obtaining a practitioner certificate to serve as legal counsels or agents.

The white paper, first of its kind, says that the lawyers can provide legal aid to criminal suspects, serving as defenders for criminal suspects and defendants in criminal cases.

"In China, law firms can be established as a partnership or by an individual. They can also be set up with the funds of the state," says the paper.

The paper also reviews that by the end of 2006 there were over 13,000 law firms in China with more than 130,000 professional practitioners.