Many NA deputies said at a meeting on the Law on Lawyers held on August 13, that law teachers should be allowed to do extra work as lawyers.

Chairman of NA Justice Committee Nguyen Van Hien (R)

The Chairman of the NA Justice Committee, Nguyen Van Hien,  was quoted as saying that the proposed law, which would have allowed law professors to take on extra work practicing their profession was affirmed by 33, with 38 disapprovals.

The Committee of Justice also stood in disagreement with Hien's opinion, citing the reason that both work could be done during office hours, when professors should be working for their schools.

The Ordinations on Lawyer Organisations, issued in 1987, and on Lawyers in 2001, permits professors to practice law. However, after reviews of these laws, the 2006 decision, made in June, nullified the decision de facto because of their inconsistencies with the general policy of professionalising lawyers.

Decisions included a large number of NA deputies, who argued that allowing professors to work outside of universities would be of value to the nation, since many of them have studied overseas, proficient and fluent in foreign languages. They were also of the opinion that practice of law would enhance their teaching abilities.

Dao Trong Thi, Chairwoman of NA Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Teenagers and Children said teaching jobs probably would not be affected as long as lecturers discussed beforehand with school administration concerning work schedules.

The Minister of Justice, Ha Hung Cuong, has agreed to let lecturers join the bar as long as they are not involved in court proceedings.