Every year on October 10, the nation not only commemorates the Liberation of Hanoi but also celebrates Vietnam Lawyers’ Day. Pursuant to Decree No. 46/SL signed by President Hồ Chí Minh on October 10, 1945, the Government organized the Lawyers’ Association to “assist the people in investigation and defense before the court.” Since 2013, the Prime Minister has issued Decision No. 149/QĐ-TTg, officially recognizing October 10 as Vietnam Lawyers’ Day, with the purpose of fostering patriotism, encouraging professional responsibility and ethics, and strengthening the legal profession. Over more than seven decades of formation and development, Vietnamese lawyers have become an important force in the legal system, safeguarding human and civil rights while contributing to the building of a socialist rule-of-law state.
Yet, this historical tradition is now entering a new phase. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, with technologies such as big data, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and blockchain, has brought profound changes across all sectors. The legal profession—long associated with paperwork, case files, and face-to-face consultations—now faces the imperative of digitalization to adapt to the digital society. Tradition and modernity must find a common voice; historical experience must be combined with new technology to bring the law closer to the people, businesses, and investors, both domestic and foreign.
Against this backdrop, Siglaw—a law firm established in 2014—has affirmed a distinctive position with its philosophy of “Digitizing Trust.” Rather than merely relying on traditional advertising to build its image, Siglaw strives to integrate technology into consultancy, management, and communication. This article retraces the journey of Vietnam’s legal profession through the lens of the 4.0 era, analyzing both the opportunities and challenges lawyers face, while presenting Siglaw’s secret to “digitizing trust”—a pioneering approach that combines professional ethics, legal expertise, and technological competence to enhance service quality and foster lasting client confidence.
October 10 – A Milestone of Trust and Responsibility
New Responsibilities in the 4.0 Era
Tradition provides a solid foundation, but the world is changing faster than ever. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has ushered in the digital economy, where information and data are treated as “gold,” global connections occur in an instant, and clients are accustomed to searching for services online.
For the legal profession, this translates into new demands from businesses and individuals: they want to access lawyers easily, quickly, transparently, at reasonable costs, and with guaranteed confidentiality. The mission of lawyers, therefore, is to “digitize” their service capabilities while preserving their core values—trust, confidentiality, and professional ethics.
Thus, October 10 is not only a day of remembrance but also a reminder of the duty to adapt. Today’s lawyers must understand technology, be able to use electronic tools to manage case files, conduct legal research, interact with clients, and even participate in online litigation. They must strive to build personal brands through transparency, optimal client experience, and dedication. Only with the trust of society can lawyers fully perform their role as “defenders of justice” in the digital era.
The 4.0 Wave: Where Technology and the Legal Profession Converge
The Essence of Digital Transformation
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is closely associated with concepts such as “big data,” the “Internet of Things,” “cloud computing,” and “blockchain.” These are technological foundations that enable automation, process optimization, device interconnectivity, and the analysis and exchange of vast amounts of data in real time.
In manufacturing, these technologies have created smart factories; in agriculture, they enable controlled cultivation processes; in finance, they facilitate instant and transparent transactions. For the legal profession, digital transformation is not merely the conversion of paper documents into electronic files but also encompasses:
Electronic data management: Digital systems for managing documents and case files allow lawyers to store, search, and share information more quickly.
Online legal research: The Internet, legal databases, and judicial information portals enable access to statutes, precedents, and case studies within seconds.
Marketing and client engagement: Websites, social media, online advertising, and search engine optimization (SEO) allow law firms to reach new clients and strengthen their reputation.
Digital internal management: Software tools for task management, case tracking, and team collaboration improve organizational efficiency and reduce processing time.
The Benefits of Digital Transformation for Lawyers and Businesses
The adoption of digital technology enables lawyers to save time and costs while improving service quality, thereby providing significant support in their professional practice. Specifically:
Broader client access: In the past, lawyers often served clients within a limited geographic area. Today, through online platforms, they can advise clients from any province or even from abroad. Lawyers use websites, Facebook, and LinkedIn to publish articles and share experiences, thereby building their personal brands.
Optimized legal research: Complex cases may require lawyers to review dozens of statutes, precedents, and academic articles. Digital databases shorten research time, enhance accuracy and currency, and allow lawyers to focus more on analysis and strategy rather than combing through paperwork.
Efficient management and collaboration: Case management and task-tracking software facilitate work allocation, progress monitoring, and electronic file storage. With data shared through intranet systems, lawyers can work remotely while maintaining oversight of their cases.
Enhanced transparency and interaction: When court rulings and judgments are published on judicial portals, both lawyers and the public can access them to better understand legal principles, thereby fostering trust in justice. Likewise, businesses adopting transparent governance in the digital environment are compelled to comply with the law, creating more opportunities for lawyers to provide preventive legal advice.
Opportunities: Emerging Demands in the Digital Economy
The digital economy opens up numerous service areas in which lawyers can play an active role. The surge in cross-border investment and trade generates growing demand for legal advisory services on free trade agreements, investment procedures, international contracts, and dispute resolution.
In particular, digital start-ups, fintech companies, and e-commerce enterprises require legal support on personal data management, intellectual property protection, electronic contracts, and more. Thanks to the Internet, lawyers can now reach clients across multiple countries without being constrained by geography.
Furthermore, the public disclosure of judgments and decisions on the Supreme People’s Court’s electronic portal creates a “vast database” that lawyers, researchers, and citizens can reference. This enhances transparency and lays the foundation for the development of legal research and data analytics services. At the same time, as businesses digitize their internal processes, lawyers gain easier access to assess and advise on related legal risks.
Challenges: The Skills Gap and Growing Competition
Alongside opportunities, digital transformation also brings significant challenges. Many lawyers—particularly those in local provinces—are not yet accustomed to using technology; they lack computer skills, have limited ability to utilize online databases, and are unfamiliar with management software. The entry of foreign legal service providers has further intensified competition in the market.
Another major challenge lies in data security and privacy. As everything becomes digitized, cybercrime is also evolving and expanding in scale. Lawyers must therefore strengthen measures to protect client information and comply with data protection regulations. They must also proactively update their technological knowledge to avoid falling behind.
Siglaw: “Digitizing Trust” – A Pioneering Model
From Aspiration to Action
Siglaw was founded in 2014, at a time when Vietnam’s legal market was opening strongly with the participation of numerous foreign enterprises. The firm provides legal consulting, investment, M&A, and tax accounting solutions to both foreign direct investors (FDI) and domestic enterprises. Siglaw continuously innovates and offers flexible, practical solutions to meet diverse client needs. Emerging from an academic environment—where many lawyers were still accustomed to paperwork—Siglaw set its goal to innovate ceaselessly in order to transcend traditional limits.
In the context of global integration, Vietnam’s market has a significant demand for legal services, especially as the country signs numerous free trade agreements and attracts large inflows of FDI. Recognizing this demand, Siglaw has chosen the strategy of “Digitizing Trust”—leveraging technology to enhance efficiency while placing trust and professional ethics at the core.
Four Pillars: Confidentiality – Responsibility – Professionalism – Credibility
Siglaw’s guiding principle of service is encapsulated in four words: Confidentiality – Responsibility – Professionalism – Credibility. These represent the “trust” that Siglaw seeks to digitize. Each pillar is reinterpreted through the lens of the digital era:
Confidentiality: In the legal sector, information security is a matter of survival. Siglaw has built an internal data storage system, with access permissions and data protection solutions to ensure client records remain safe. In a digital environment, employees can access files when necessary while maintaining control over sharing rights. This approach aligns with digitalization trends without compromising confidentiality.
Responsibility: At Siglaw, responsibility is reflected in the continuous updating of legal and technological knowledge, ensuring accuracy in every piece of advice, and accompanying clients throughout project implementation. Technology supports lawyers by tracking case progress, scheduling reminders, and monitoring deadlines—reducing risks of delays or errors. Yet the essence remains the human commitment to clients.
Professionalism: Siglaw maintains a team of consultants trained to a high standard, knowledgeable in both Vietnamese and international law. They master technology to prepare reports, compile documents, analyze data, and host online seminars. Clients are supported across multiple channels—email, phone, social media—through a unified and transparent process.
Credibility: In a competitive market, credibility is built through practical experience and positive client feedback. Siglaw’s client portfolio includes major partners such as Alliex, Pointave, Kocham, Onodera User Run, CEO Suite, and more. These partners value Siglaw’s deep understanding of foreign enterprises, reasonable service fees, and dedicated support. This trust represents the firm’s most valuable capital.
“Digitizing Trust” in Practice
Connecting Clients through Online Platforms
Siglaw invests in website development, fanpage management, and dedicated communication channels to publish articles, provide free consultations, and answer frequently asked questions. Digital marketing methods such as SEO, Google Ads, and content management help the firm effectively reach clients, creating an “expert image” even before direct engagement. Siglaw uses these tools to deliver legal knowledge in plain language, presented via infographics, videos, and more. Readers can easily learn about procedures for company establishment, investment conditions, or intellectual property registration directly on their phones. This approach transcends geographic and time limitations while delivering value to the community.
Additionally, Siglaw offers online consultations via email and chat. Clients need only send their documents and describe their cases, and lawyers will analyze and respond. For certain administrative procedures that allow online submission, Siglaw guides and assists clients in filing electronically instead of requiring in-person visits. This reduces travel time and meets the flexibility demanded by modern businesses.
Digital Internal Management System
Siglaw has developed a client and case database to store information, documents, scans, contracts, and transactions in digital form. Electronic files are easy to organize and search, making review and verification more transparent.
For time and task management, Siglaw deploys scheduling and deadline-tracking software. Even when team members are working in different provinces, they can update progress in real-time. This is particularly essential for complex projects involving numerous documents and certifications.
Transparency and Trust-Building
In the online environment, trust can be “fragile” without concrete proof of service quality. Siglaw ensures transparency by publishing its consultation processes, standard fee schedules, and clear contract terms. Technology enables clients to access this information anytime.
Another strength lies in Siglaw’s ability to support clients regardless of location, made possible through digitalized processes that allow lawyers to access files remotely and respond promptly.
The Legal Profession in the Digital Era: Opportunities and Challenges to 2025
Surging Demand and Market Growth
Vietnam is entering a phase of strong growth driven by deep economic integration, FDI inflows, and the boom of tech start-ups. Free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) open vast markets while imposing higher legal standards. Enterprises need lawyers to understand and comply with these commitments, seize opportunities, and avoid disputes.
At the same time, the rise of the digital economy—from e-commerce, fintech, and smart logistics to digital agriculture—creates demand for legal services in technology law, privacy, data protection, and intellectual property. Disputes over e-contracts, data theft, and violations on e-commerce platforms require lawyers with specialized knowledge. Start-ups need legal assistance in structuring companies, fundraising, equity division, and patent registration. These opportunities are booming and will continue to expand.
Siglaw’s Long-Term Vision: From Pioneer to Breakthrough
Siglaw has achieved significant milestones over more than a decade since its establishment. Alongside these achievements, the firm has set a long-term roadmap to enhance its position and contribute more to the community.
Enhancing Service Quality through Technology
Siglaw plans to invest further in case management technology, legal data analytics, and client interaction. Its goal is to build a paperless legal service ecosystem, where the entire process—from request intake, contract drafting, signing, to storage—is carried out through a digital management system. This allows clients to monitor progress, communicate with lawyers, download documents, and pay fees online. Such practices align with global legal industry trends while ensuring transparency.
In addition, Siglaw will continue building a digital knowledge database, where each practice area (investment, M&A, tax, labor, intellectual property) is compiled into a digital library for lawyers and clients to reference. The firm may also apply artificial intelligence (AI) to classify files and support legal research, thereby speeding up case processing. However, all AI-generated suggestions must be reviewed by lawyers to ensure compliance with legal ethics and the law.
Expanding Network and Training
Currently, Siglaw has its headquarters in Hanoi and a representative office in Southern Vietnam. Each office follows unified digitalized procedures, interconnected through electronic systems. This ensures consistent services nationwide.
At the same time, Siglaw emphasizes staff training. The firm regularly organizes in-house workshops and training courses. Lawyers are equipped not only with legal knowledge but also with skills in business management, finance, communication, and technology. Siglaw aims to nurture lawyers who are both highly competent in their field and adaptable in the digital environment.
Strength from the Combination of Tradition and Modernity
Vietnam Lawyers’ Day (October 10) is an occasion for every Vietnamese lawyer to take pride in the history of the profession, recalling Decree 46/SL of 1945 and the Prime Minister’s Decision 149 of 2013. It is also a time to look toward the future: a digitalized world where lawyers appear not only in courtrooms but also on computer and smartphone screens. The Fourth Industrial Revolution offers tremendous opportunities if lawyers know how to apply technology to optimize research, management, and client care. Yet challenges such as skills gaps, competition, and data security demand constant learning.
Siglaw has proposed an answer: “Digitizing Trust.” Trust—the most valuable intangible asset—is reinforced through the combination of four pillars (Confidentiality – Responsibility – Professionalism – Credibility) and technological tools. The firm leverages digital marketing to reach clients, manages electronic case files to improve efficiency, builds a legal knowledge database to support research, and ensures transparent interactions.
The road ahead is long. But if every lawyer and law practice organization recognizes that technology is not a threat but a tool, and that ethics and trust must be preserved in the digital space, then Vietnam’s legal profession will confidently step into the future. With its vision of “Digitizing Trust,” Siglaw is contributing to writing a new chapter for the legal profession—one that remains rooted in tradition while constantly innovating to better serve society.
