Rise to international levels, Vietnam lawyers urged

HA NOI - President Truong Tan Sang said on Saturday that the Government will support the country's lawyers in fulfilling their role of redressing shortcomings and other issues in the national legal system.

He was addressing the National Congress of Lawyers that concluded yesterday with the election of 95 members to the National Lawyers' Council.

Sang called on lawyers to continue improving their capabilities, especially in handling international lawsuits.

He asked the Viet Nam Bar Federation (VBF) to serve as a bridge between the Government and lawyers nationwide, noting that the country's per capita lawyer population remained low compared to international norms.

The quality of legal services provided should also improve, he said.

VBF vice-president Phan Trung Hoai said the new council would elect its President at its next meeting. He said the selection process must be carefully planned and executed as the President would play a key role in developing the organisation.

Answering questions raised by reporters on ethical breaches in the legal profession, another VBF vice president, Do Ngoc Thinh, said there was no case in which conclusive evidence has been found of lawyers intentionally obstructing justice, although "there have been reports and signs."

He said organisations and individuals found breaking the professional code of conduct or deliberately obstructing justice will be severely punished and removed from the bar.