Vietnam Lawyers� Association is a professional organization of a profound political and social character of the persons working in the legal domain. Through 45 years of activities and growth, Vietnam Lawyers� Association has rallied and united broadly those who have been working in the legal domain in the State agencies, economic and social organizations, those who have been practicing as lawyers or legal consultants, helping the lawyers to develop their potentials and intellect in the building and defense of the Motherland, taking part in the law making, dissemination and popularization and translation of laws into life, enhancement of the socialist legality and building of the law-governed State of Vietnam. The Association has actively broadened its relations with the legal organizations and lawyers of the countries in the region and in the world, thus contributing to the implementation of the foreign policy of the Party and State.

In furtherance of Directive No. 56/CT-TW of August 18, 2000 of the Political Bureau on strengthening the Party leadership toward the work of Vietnam Lawyers� Association, further promoting the effect of the lawyers� activities in the period of the stepped-up national industrialization and modernization for the objective of prosperous people, a strong country and an equitable, democratic and civilized society, the Prime Minister gives the following instruction:

1. The ministries, the ministerial-level agencies, the agencies attached to the Government, the People�s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities, and enterprises of various economic sectors shall have to pay more attention to and create favorable conditions for consolidating and developing the organization of Vietnam Lawyers� Association. More concretely:

a/ Where Vietnam Lawyers� Association has set up its organizations, it is necessary to pay more attention to and create favorable conditions for such organizations propagating to consolidate and develop their membership, adequately and effectively carry out their activities strictly according to the Association�s goal and guiding principles.

b/ Where there are already the necessary conditions but the Lawyers� Association has not yet set up its organizations, it is necessary to assist the setting up of the Association�s organizations and create favorable conditions for its activities.

c/ Where there are lawyers among the cadres and public employees who are not yet members of Vietnam Lawyers� Association, it is necessary to pay attention to them and create conditions for them to join as soon as possible the Association and actively take part in the activities of the Association.

2. The Ministry of Justice shall have:

- To coordinate with the ministries, the ministerial-level agencies, the agencies attached to the Government and the People�s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities in carrying out measures to develop the capabilities of the Lawyers� Association in the activities of law elaboration, dissemination, popularization and education, supervision of the law enforcement, reconciliation of disputes at the grassroots, provisions of legal consultancy and assistance in order to contribute to the promotion of democracy at the grassroots, protect the legitimate rights and interests of the State, the collectives and citizens, actively take part in the implementation of the National Program on crime prevention and combat mobilization of people to take part effectively in the movement "To live and work according to the Constitution and law".

- To assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with the Central Committee of Vietnam Lawyers� Association and the ministries and related agencies, in speedily working out and submitting to the Government for promulgation the following Decrees and drafting the following Ordinance:

+ Decree to promulgate the Regulation on management of lawyers;

+ Decree on legal consultancy by the Lawyers� Association, in which importance should be attached to the strengthening of legal consultancy and assistance free of charge for the poor and the beneficiaries of social policies;

+ The draft Ordinance on arbitration and documents guiding the implementation thereof in preparation for submission to the National Assembly Standing Committee for examination and approval.

3. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs shall coordinate with the External Relations Commission of the Party Central Committee and the Central Committee of Vietnam Lawyers� Association in further broadening and rairing the efficacy of the cooperative relations with the lawyers� organizations and progressive lawyers of the countries in the region and in the world in order to contribute to the materialization of the external relations policy of the Party; propagating the policies and laws of the State to foreign countries in order to help create a favorable legal environment for economic build-up and development, preservation of national independence, sovereignty and security; to help Vietnam Lawyers� Association build a concrete plan to persuade lawyers being overseas Vietnamese to contribute to the national construction.

4. The Government Commission for Organization and Personnel, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, the People�s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities shall base themselves on their functions and vested powers to coordinate with the Lawyers� Association in taking specific measures to assist the Lawyers� Association organizations at various levels in terms of specialized cadres, operation funding, and other necessary material bases (office, working means) as stipulated by the Law on the State budget and the current regulations of the State corresponding to the position and role of the Association in the new period.

5. The ministers, the heads of the ministerial-level agencies, the heads of the agencies attached to the Government, the presidents of the People�s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities shall coordinate with Vietnam Lawyers� Association in organizing the implementation of this Directive. The Ministry of Justice shall have to review the situation and report to the Prime Minister on the implementation result.

Prime Minister
PHAN VAN KHAI