Zhang Jun, minister of justice, emphasized promoting reform of the lawyer administration system and safeguarding its credibility at a general council of the All China Lawyers Association in Beijing on August 27.

A lawyer association is a self-disciplining organization, and is fundamental to the construction of lawyers’ work in society, according to Zhang.

It’s also necessary to solve problems in the management of lawyer associations such as determining duty obligations in every position and the consequences of failing to fulfill those duties, Zhang said.

Zhang pointed out that all lawyer associations need to improve as soon as possible, fulfill all existing requirements and play the leading role in protecting the rights of lawyers.

He also added that lawyer associations, as homes to lawyers, must pay attention to lawyers’ concerns and expectations and meet their obligations to lawyers as we enter a new period of history.

The conference participants also deliberated on lawyers’ handling of criminal cases and establishing a lawyer credit and informatization system.