1. Lawyer standards and conditions for practicing law
Vietnamese citizens who are loyal to the Fatherland, comply with the Constitution and law, possess good moral qualities, hold a bachelor’s degree in law, have completed lawyer training, have undergone a legal internship, and are healthy enough to practice law, may become a lawyer.
Individuals who meet these prescribed standards and wish to practice law must possess a Lawyer Practicing Certificate and join a Bar Association.
2. Application dossier and procedures for issuing a Lawyer Practicing Certificate
Pursuant to Section I, Appendix III of administrative procedures in the field of lawyer management issued together with Decree 121/2025/ND-CP, the application dossier and procedures for issuing a Lawyer Practicing Certificate are as follows:
2.1. Application dossier for issuing a Lawyer Practicing Certificate
Individuals who pass the internship performance evaluation for practicing law shall prepare 01 set of application dossiers for a Lawyer Practicing Certificate, which includes:
– Application form for a Lawyer Practicing Certificate;
– Original or electronic copy of the health certificate;
– Certified copy or electronic copy of a Bachelor of Law degree or a Master of Law degree;
– Certified copy or electronic copy of the internship performance evaluation certificate for practicing law.
Individuals exempt from the legal internship shall prepare 01 set of application dossiers for a Lawyer Practicing Certificate, which includes:
– Application form for a Lawyer Practicing Certificate;
– Original or electronic copy of the health certificate;
– Certified copy or electronic copy of a Bachelor of Law degree or a Master of Law degree, except for those who are professors, associate professors specializing in law, or doctors of law;
– Certified copy or electronic copy of documents proving exemption from legal internship as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 16 of the Law on Lawyers.
2.2. Place of submission and method of submission
– Place of submission: The Department of Justice where the legal internship was performed (for those who underwent legal internship) or the Department of Justice where the individual permanently resides (for those exempt from legal internship)
– Method of submission:
- Direct submission
- Via postal service
- Online via the National Public Service Portal
2.3. Procedures for issuing a Lawyer Practicing Certificate
– Within 05 working days from the date of receiving a complete and valid dossier, the Department of Justice is responsible for reviewing the dossier, verifying its legality if necessary, and submitting a written request along with the dossier for the Lawyer Practicing Certificate to the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee.
When processing the application for a Lawyer Practicing Certificate, the Department of Justice shall request the judicial record database management agency to provide judicial record information for the applicant.
The judicial record database management agency is responsible for providing information to the requesting agency within 03 working days from the date of receiving the request. The time for coordinating the provision of judicial record information is not included in the administrative procedure processing time.
– Within 10 working days from the date of receiving a complete and valid dossier from the Department of Justice, the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee shall decide on the issuance of the Lawyer Practicing Certificate; in case of refusal, a written notification stating the reasons must be provided.
Applicants shall receive results at the Department of Justice where they submitted the dossier or via postal service, unless otherwise provided by law.
