Guangdong will make lawyers' fees public knowledge from Aug. 15, Chinese media reported Sunday.

The practice will be trialed for two years before being made a rule, reports said.

Legal service payments are divided into three main categories and it is up to a final agreement between lawyers and their clients to decide which payment system they will choose.

Lawyers can charge according to how many hours they have served their clients, a common practice in foreign countries. The second payment method is a piece-rate charge. Under the third category, clients and lawyers can negotiate a set charge, which is widely used by law firms in the province.

The announcement was warmly welcomed by citizens and legal experts, who agreed the move, would help keep the legal sector on the right track.

(Shenzhen Daily July 28, 2003)