Shanghai launched an educational campaign over the weekend to require local lawyers to deal with cases with strict regard to law to safeguard judicial fairness.

"Firm efforts should be made to standardize behavior in legal affairs," Miao Xiaobao, director of the Shanghai Justice Bureau, said at a Saturday municipal working conference, indicating the start-up of the campaign.

He said most local lawyers have done a good job contributing to the city's social stability and economic development over the past several years.

In all, last year attorneys handled 9,587 criminal, 49,850 civil, and 18,183 economic cases, as well as providing myriad legal services to people.

"But we must also see clearly that serious problems still exist in handling things, because some lawyers behave illegally," said Miao.

The bureau issued a document on April 16, saying illegal behavior has affected the image of local lawyers and is detrimental to stability.

The document said some lawyers seek profit at the cost of the interests of parties they should be helping, while some drop the ball after having received money to handle cases. Others have no credibility and some have abnormal relations with judges in judicial procedures.

"All these practices have led to unfair justice," it said.

Gui Xiaomin, deputy director of the bureau, said the new educational campaign is part of a nationwide effort started by the Ministry of Justice, and aims to solve these problems.

"We will help lawyers enhance the concept of dealing with cases according to law and with credibility," Gui said.

"The lawyers and law firms that have violated laws and discipline will be punished," the deputy director said.

Efforts will be made to improve the management of local law firms and put right relations between lawyers and judges.

"Cases of bribery involving lawyers and judges will be investigated and dealt with accordingly," he said.

He stressed the purpose of doing so is to "safeguard judicial fairness."

The bureau will establish a preliminary credibility system by the end of June to tell society basic information of local lawyers and law firms.

"The ill behaviors and records of lawyers and law firms will be published at regular intervals," Gui said.

The bureau will also set up a punishment assessment committee which will consist of law professors, judicial officials, experts from the bar association and celebrities.

"The committee will examine the cases to decide whether administrative punishment will be given to lawyers or law firms concerned," Gui said.

According to Vice-Justice Minister Duan Zhengkun, who attended the conference on Saturday, the ministry is revising the law on solicitors and mapping out some documents concerning lawyers with the help of other departments concerned.

"Doing so is to create an ideal environment for lawyers to handle legal affairs when we standardize the country's legal market by hitting hard at evil and fake lawyers," Duan said.

(China Daily April 19, 2004)