The first National Lawyers’ Congress was held on May 11 in Hanoi with the participation of more than 5,300 lawyers, in 62 delegations from throughout the country, State President Nguyen Minh Triet, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong, National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu, Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong, Head of the People’s Procuracy Tran Quoc Vuong and representatives from centrally-run sectors, embassies and foreign organisations in Hanoi.

The congress aims to establish the Vietnam Lawyer’s Confederation.

On behalf of the Party and State, Mr Triet conveyed his warm regards to the former generations of lawyers and highlighted their significant contributions by the Vietnamese lawyer circle to the cause of national construction and defence.

The establishment of the confederation is a manifestation of the patriotic tradition, and the responsibility of attorneys have for the people and the Party and State’s correct policies and guidelines on building a law-governed socialist State, perfecting the legal system and reforming the judicial system.

Regarding lawyers’ responsibility in the process of national industrialisation and modernisation and international integration, Mr Triet asked them to be fully aware of their obligation and responsibility to protect citizens’ legitimate rights, the socialist legal system and the State’s interests. He also called on them to improve their professional skills and morality, knowledge of foreign languages and political awareness so that their qualifications can be on par with other lawyers in the region and around the world.

The State leader also asked the Vietnam Lawyer’s Confederation to cooperate with relevant agencies to implement a strategy on reinforcing judicial reform and developing a contingent of qualified lawyers until 2020.