China has 11,000 law firms throughout the country, 70 percent of which are owned by lawyers, according to the Ministry of Justice. 

In the past, all Chinese law firms were run by the government, under central, provincial or local justice departments. In recent years, however, the government reformed the sector to bring the legal profession in line with international practice.

More than 100 overseas law firms have been permitted to open offices in cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Under the current law, a law firm must be operated by at least three lawyers who have practiced for five years or longer.

According to the ministry, some of the new domestic firms are not well managed and are not operating in accordance with the law, with members working as separate individuals rather than as a team. The ministry urged lawyers to abide by the law and professional ethics.

The government will work in the year ahead to regulate the operation of law firms and bring the activities of lawyers under control.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2005)