The number of lawyers operating in China has grown from around 200 in 1980 to almost 220,000 today, a senior justice official said on Tuesday.

Zhao Dacheng, vice minister of justice, said in an online interview that there are about 20,000 law firms operating in the country, dealing with an estimated two million lawsuits every year, Zhao said.

“Lawyers in China have engaged extensively in every aspect of life, including the economy, politics, society and culture,” Zhao said.

“They are playing a unique and irreplaceable role in safeguarding the rights of civilians and in the justice system.”

wanghuazhong@chinadaily.com.cn