First National Judicial Examination Held

China's first national judicial examination was held on March 30 & 31, 2002. Over 360,000 candidates wrote the two-day examination. The examination was the first in what to be an annual event. It has replaced the former national qualification test for lawyers. The aim of the examination is to have " provide a route for talented people to become judges, prosecutors and lawyers" according to the vice minister of Justice.

In the past there was no official uniformed examinations for judges and prosecutors. The only official examination was the national lawyer's qualification examination which is held every year. Starting from this year, those who want to be judges and prosecutors should first pass the national judicial examination before they can be listed as candidates for judges and prosecutors.