Beijing residents enjoyed a day of free legal advice Friday, as some 30 law firms volunteered to join the effort initiated by the municipal government.
Statistics show that some 200 people called or visited the firms this morning for answers to legal questions on marriage, house ownership and labor contracts.
An official from the municipal judicial bureau said that the free consulting service will be held on the last Friday morning of every month starting next year.
More lawyers are expected to participate in the service, the official said.
There are 6,000 lawyers working in Beijing's 443 registered law firms, a leap over the figure for 1979, when 30 attorneys were working in Beijing's two law firms.
(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2001)