Chinese lawyers have protested vigorously over legislation holding law firms to account for lawyers who write open letters, sign petitions or organise forums to pressurise judicial authorities. The South China Morning Post reports that 168 lawyers signed a petition letter to the State Council calling for revocation of the new amendments proposed by the Ministry of Justice, which aim to crackdown further on human rights lawyers and hold firms responsible if their lawyers make 'misleading and distorting comments' on cases or 'provoke discontent towards the Communist Party'.

Decline and decay

The letter says the new amendment 'will not protect the national interest and the socialist legal system. Instead, it will lead to the decline and decay of the practise of law in China.'