SHANGHAI - Shanghai appointed 289 assistants to judges and procurators on Sept 5 for the first time on the Chinese mainland as part of a pilot program for judicial reform.

Assistants with legal qualifications were selected from public servants in the city’s courts and procuratorates. They will work in eight pilot courts and procuratorates, including Shanghai No.2 Intermediate People’s Court and Shanghai People’s Procuratorate Second Branch.

After a five-year term, the assistants can be promoted to judges or procurators if they perform well.

Judges assistants will review lawsuit documents and prepare reference materials related to trials. Assistants for procurators are responsible for investigation and collection of evidence as well as preparing documents.

The pilot program will be promoted in the whole city next year.

The appointment of assistants is of great importance for improving the expertise and efficiency of judicial staff, said Jiang Ping, a senior official of Shanghai.