Legal Education in Vietnam: The History, Current Situation and Challenges

Abstract

Vietnamese legal education is a relatively new system with the first law school being established in 1976. At present, with approximately more than 40 institutions offering legal education programs at different levels, ranging from bachelors to doctoral, the Vietnamese system still remains underdeveloped. Heavy emphasis on the teaching of legal doctrine and principles, lack of professional skills training and a passive learning environment are common problems of the current Vietnamese system. This paper discusses the history, current state and challenges of the Vietnamese legal education system. The aim of the paper is to present a general picture of Vietnamese legal education and establish context for future discussions on possibilities for reform.