While there are five lawyers elected to the congress, the body has no set legal staff to ensure bills are in line with national laws, and individual congress deputies don't have their own legal staff to advise them when drafting legislation.

This is the first time that lawyers will offer their professional suggestions on bills to improve the legal standing, said the Shanghai Bar Association.

"The process for creating legislation in the city still takes longer time than some southern cities. With professional advice from lawyers, the congress deputies can write more effective bills and speed up the law-making process," said Zhu Hongchao, chairman of association.

Since 2000, the association has organized its members to provide professional suggestions on more than 60 drafts of local regulations and rules for local government and lawmakers.

The lawyers on the SPC say they have prepared bills concerning hot legal topics such as labor disputes, real estate development, compensation for relocation due to urban re-development projects, meditating between judicial process and administrative management.

"The association will set up an information database to collect the cases and disputes lawyers deal with, and bring the issues to People's Congress," said Lu Hongbin, the association's vice chairman.

Meanwhile, local lawyers will be sporting a new look in court, as the city has adopted "uniforms" for lawyers in order to make them look more professional. They will be asked to wear a black gown and red scarf whenever they are in the courtroom as of May 1.

(eastday.com February 12, 2003)