President Truong Tan Sang has urged the Vietnam Lawyers’ Association (VLA) to get more involved in the law making process while upholding its role as a political, social and occupational organisation that gathers legal experts nationwide.

President Sang, who is also Head of the Central Steering Committee on Judicial Reform, also pledged to facilitate the association’s stronger participation in the judicial reform at a working session with a VLA delegation in Hanoi on April 14.

The State leader hailed the association for fulfilling its tasks, particularly in providing legal assistance for the public.

 
 President Truong Tan Sang (right) at the working session.

The association has strived to improve the quality of legal support to groups, corporations and businesses as Vietnam accelerates negotiations to join the world’s major economic agreements, he said.

The President also spoke highly of the association’s role in social criticism, law enforcement monitoring and the settlement of legal disputes.

In order to bring its position into full play, the association should increase professional trainings and foreign language teaching for its members while expanding international cooperation, thus meeting the country’s needs at a time of intensive and extensive development and integration, the leader said.

Six decades after its foundation, the VLA’s membership has grown to more than 46,000 from the initial 40.

The association has provided legal consultations and assistance and participated in the settlement of complaints and reconciliations at the grassroots level through its legal offices.

Most beneficiaries are disadvantaged groups, the impoverished and ethnic minority groups, who have received consultations directly or through various channels such as mobile phones and the media.

Source: VNA