The All China Lawyers Association, Internal Management of Law Firms Rules (Trial Implementation)

Issued: March 20 2004
Effective: as of date of issue
Interpreting authority: The Standing Committee of the All China Lawyers Association
Applicability: The Rules apply to lawfully established partnership law firms, cooperative law firms and law firms established and funded by the state that are members of lawyers associations or organizations (Article 2).
Pilot projects for sole proprietorship law firms and law firms in other forms shall be handled, mutatis mutandis, in accordance with these Rules (Article 52).

Main contents: The Rules detail the internal management structure, human resources management, business management and finance management of law firms. Part Three lists the type of persons who shall not be employed to engage in legal business such as those who have received criminal punishment; and rights enjoyed by employees of a law firm such as resignation in accordance with the contract. When leaving a law firm, a lawyer shall hand over materials such as business files kept by her, and relevant materials and evidence of cases not finished unless such handover is not agreed by the client (Article 17).
Related legislation:PRC Lawyers Law (Amended), Oct 28 2007, CLP 2007 No.10 p83; Administration of Partnership Law Firms Procedures, Oct 25 1996, CLP 1997 No.4 p9; Administration of Cooperative Law Firms Procedures, Nov 25 1996, CLP 1997 No.4 p9; Administration of Law Firms Established and Funded by the State Procedures and Charter of Lawyers Association (Revised), May 21 2002, CLP 2002 No.9 p6