The implementation of the rule of law in China needs joint efforts from all walks of life. Among them, lawyers will play a vital role. Not long ago, a small number of lawyers and those who act as rights lawyers confronted the government, causing a negative effect.

They made the public believe the lawyers' circle is active in politics and that this group of people is stubborn and rigid.

It is a lawyer's job to stand firm on his opinions when defending his clients, a right authorized by law. It is the law that allows lawyers to function. Their identity determines that most of the time they will not follow the words of the public security authorities and the prosecutors.

As they take an extremely serious manner toward evidence and procedures, they are trying their utmost to protect the rights of their clients so as to safeguard China's legal system. In a sense, they are supervisors of China's legal system.

Chinese society hasn't fully adapted to the way these lawyers work. Especially when their manners touch upon politics, the government can easily become watchful.

The emergence of some sharp conflicts reflects China's lack of ability to abide by the law. Government authorities often stress the actual situation, while lawyers focus on legal documents.

This often leads to confrontations between the two sides, despite the fact that it actually pushes forward China's development.

Officials should have a clearer understanding of the law as an occupation. They shouldn't view lawyers as challengers to the system when lawyers engage in sensitive cases.

Fundamentally, lawyers are guardians of China's legal system. Therefore, they should be viewed as guardians of China's political system. In many societies, lawyers are politically conservative. The way authorities and lawyers communicate is one of the factors determining social harmony.

Meanwhile, if lawyers want to gain more political trust from society, they should also adjust their own words and deeds and the way they communicate with the public.

Not long ago, individual lawyers publicly mocked the country's political path and acted as opinion leaders to confront the government.

We don't know whether they did so because they wanted to be a political opposition or just wanted to promote themselves or their business. But the result is that they put too much political connotation onto this profession.

The Fourth Plenum of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was a landmark of pushing forward China's rule of law.

It is hoped that the government has a broader mind-set and is more confident about the country's system. Meanwhile, lawyers are expected to play a more constructive role.

Lawyers should get both legal support and political support. This needs the efforts of all of society, particularly the efforts of lawyers themselves.