Law on Securities, the Law on Lawyers, and the Law on Legal Assistance signed

The Presidential Office on July 19 introduced the Law on Securities, the Law on Lawyers, and the Law on Legal Assistance, approved by the National Assembly in June 2006.

All the three new laws will take effect in January, 2007.The Law on Securities, which consists of 11 chapters and 136 articles, is expected to provide a foundation for the stable and rapid development of Viet Nam's stock exchange and to protect investors' rights.

Decrees and documents guiding the law's implementation will be submitted to the Government in November.

The Law on Lawyers consists of nine chapters and 94 articles and is considered an important step forward with new regulations on the practice of foreign lawyers and foreign lawyer associations in Viet Nam. It also expands practice areas of local lawyers.

With the promulgation of the Law on Legal Assistance, which consists of eight chapters and 52 articles, poor people, people who have served the country, lonely and elderly people, disabled and uncared-for children, and ethnic minorities in poor areas will be beneficiaries of free legal assistance.

Source: VNA