VietNamNet Bridge – Herique Rothe, Secretary General of the Danish Bar Association, and Anne Ramberg, Secretary General of the Swedish Bar Association, talk with VietNamNet about how to strengthen the legal profession in Vietnam.

Herique Rothe, Secretary General of the Danish Bar Association.

Vietnam’s population is 86 million and it has around 4,000 lawyers, or one lawyer for about 20,000 residents. What are the numbers in Denmark and Sweden? What are the roles of lawyers in your countries?

Herique Rothe: The Danish population is 5 million and we have 5,000 lawyers. But the number is not the most important thing, but the awareness of both businesses and ordinary people about the necessity of lawyers.

Legal fees are very costly. To promote the rule of law, a state must have a legal system to ensure that the poor can access legal services.

Businesses are ready to pay for legal services because in the global economy, competition, legal consultation can help businesses do better business and earn more profit.

For ordinary people, lawyers can help them access the law. Lawyers must do that. Sometimes they are willing to serve free of charge.

Anne Ramberg: Sweden has 4,500 lawyers for 9.8 million people. On average, a lawyer serves 2,279 people. Actually, it is an extremely low rate for a country with 86 million people to have only 4,000 lawyers.

Vietnam has a very high percentage of young people. I would like to say that without an independent set of rules, the independence of the judiciary system as well as the independence of lawyers, it will be very difficult to have a state of law.

A state with a strong legal system must have independent courts, independent lawyers, and executive bodies to ensure no corruption.

Both of you emphasised the important role of the independence of lawyers for a state of law. In Vietnam, it is quite easy to become a lawyer, how about in Denmark and Sweden?

Anne Ramberg, Secretary General of the Swedish Bar Association

After graduating, you have to practice at a law firm for five years more. After that you have to pass an exam and then apply to become a member of the Swedish Bar Association.

But to practice independently, you have to prove your professionalism and have recommendation letters from courts and lawyers that you worked with during your five years of apprenticeship. If you pass the bar exam, you will become a member and can work independently. We always respect and protect the title of lawyer.

Henrik Rothe: The practice period of Denmark is only three years but after that you also have to pass an exam to join the Danish Bar Association. Young lawyers must go to a court for a capability test with judges or chief lawyers.

Vietnam is preparing for the establishment of a bar association to protect the rights and interests, and ensure the adherence of lawyers to ethical standards. In your experience, how many years of experience should be required for heads of lawyers’ associations?

Anne Ramberg: We don’t have clear standards for this, but normally they must be experienced and reputed lawyers. Before assuming my current position, I worked as a lawyer for 23 years and I’ve been working for the bar association for eight years.

Henrik Rothe: I was not a lawyer when I assumed the secretary general post but I have been a judge. The chairman of the Danish Bar Association must be a lawyer. In Sweden, the secretary general can speak to the media but in Denmark, only the chairman can do this.

In order for Vietnam to have a national bar association recognised by the international legal community, Vietnamese lawyers will have to meet certain standards, be independent, and work according to lawyers’ rules. International bar associations are willing to exchange experience with Vietnam.

Xuan Linh