The government is set to take action against exaggerated lawyer advertisements, such as claims of being the "top brand for three consecutive years" or predicting a "99% success rate in compensation cases."
On July 9, the Justice Ministry announced in a press release that it has formed a dedicated investigation team to address the increasing number of advertisements that distort the public's rational choices and undermine the fairness of judicial processes.
According to the ministry, the number of disciplinary cases related to advertising regulation violations submitted to the Lawyer Disciplinary Committee surged from one case in 2021 (out of a total of 10) to 88 cases in 2025 (out of 124). Currently, more than half of the 114 pending cases at the Justice Ministry involve advertising regulation violations, totaling 79 cases.
The Justice Ministry is establishing new standards for legal ethics to meet the heightened public demand, moving away from reliance on past precedents or practices. The ministry also cited recent investigations that determined advertisements featuring the history of former judges imply undue influence, going beyond mere profile displays.
Additionally, the ministry is intensifying investigations and disciplinary actions against lawyers who violate their duty of integrity. It plans to prioritize handling cases of serious violations and swiftly decide on disciplinary measures against lawyers who could cause further harm to the public.
A dedicated team has been formed to investigate and review cases. The Justice Ministry aims to move away from past practices that relied solely on records transferred from the Bar Association, instead verifying basic facts and exploring various methods to ensure that disciplinary decisions are made based on violations.
Lawyers who cause significant mental or financial harm to clients will face restrictions on their practice based on the number of violations, the scale of harm, and the clients' willingness to pursue disciplinary action.
Recently, the Justice Ministry achieved a record of zero losses in lawsuits filed by lawyers challenging disciplinary actions, having attended multiple hearings and submitted numerous documents to support its cases.
Moving forward, the Justice Ministry plans to increase the frequency of its disciplinary committee meetings from three times a year to six, streamlining the review process to handle more cases per session. The ministry is also committed to continuously enhancing its review capabilities to foster a legal market where the public can feel secure.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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