More than 360,000 people have applied to take part in a national exam on March 30 and 31 to acquire the qualification for judges, procurators and lawyers.
The exact number of applicants for the exam, the first of its kind in China, is 360,347 with 93.81 percent under the age of 40, according to the Ministry of Justice which organizes the exam.
As a result of the amendments to three laws on judges, procurators and lawyers, the national exam replaces the previous three separate exams for recruiting people into the judicial sector.
The amendments also require that applicants for the exam should be graduates from a regular college.
Minister of Justice Zhang Fusen said at a press conference on Thursday that "the establishment of the judicial exam is a major step in China's judicial reform and will be crucial for guaranteeing the quality and proficiency of people in law enforcement."
(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2002)
