The committee disclosed Tuesday that it had adopted these changes with a vote of 13 out of 16 participating members at the 21st general meeting held on Monday. The committee did not provide details, such as the capacity of new law schools and the number of universities that will be allowed to set up law schools, only proposing a standard.

Limiting entrance to law school to students with at least a bachelor's degree, candidates will be assessed on school grades, aptitude test scores, foreign language ability and social and voluntary work experiences. As for the existing judicial examination system, the quota of successful candidates will decrease starting 2011, when the judicial officer training examination is implemented, and be phased out completely by 2013.

The committee will draw up its proposal and submit it to Supreme Court chief Choi Jong-young in the near future. Choi will then submit the document to President Roh Moo-hyun. The Supreme Court plans to begin revising and establishing related laws, together with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development from early next year.

(Choi Jae-hyuk, jhchoi@chosun.com )