BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Free legal service will be given to private enterprises to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, according to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Friday.

Local justice administrations, associations of industry and commerce as well as bar associations will organize lawyers for public legal service, said Zhou Yuansheng, director of the Department of Directing Lawyers and Notarization with the MOJ.

Over 56,000 private enterprises received free legal services from 17,600 lawyers within more than 3,100 legal groups during a two-month pilot project launched by the MOJ since last November.

The legal problems that affected private enterprises laid in various aspects including equity disputes, contract breaches and intellectual property rights, Zhou said, adding that some private enterprises failed to be prepared in legal affairs and risk control.

The MOJ and All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce will improve guidance for legal counsels in private business this year to facilitate private enterprises in solving legal disputes, he said.