About

The South Pacific Lawyers’ Association (formerly South Pacific Bars’ Secretariat) is housed within the Law Council of Australia Secretariat in Canberra. It was established in 2007 by the International Bar Association (IBA) in partnership with the Law Council of Australia and the New Zealand Law Society to assist developing law societies and bar associations in the South Pacific and to promote the interests of the legal profession in the South Pacific.

In 2008, members elected a Steering Committee to oversee the development of the Association. The Steering Committee of the South Pacific Lawyers’ Association comprises:

  • Mr Ross Ray QC: Former President, Law Council of Australia (Chair)
  • Mr Dorsami Naidu: President, Fiji Law Society
  • Mr John Marshall QC: President, New Zealand Law Society
  • Mr Kerenga Kua: President, Papua New Guinea Law Society
  • Mr Raymond Schuster: President, Samoa Law Society (since September 2010)
  • Mr Rodney Kingmele: President, Solomon Islands Bar Association

What we do

The South Pacific Lawyers’ Association works closely with members to promote the administration of justice and the development and improvement of law throughout the South Pacific region.

We seek to provide members with access to relevant resources and information, including:

  • model rules on professional ethics;
  • continuing legal education resources; and
  • information on regional aid and assistance programs which members may be eligible to apply to for funding or support.

Through partnerships with the New Zealand Law Society, the Law Institute of Victoria, the Law Society of New South Wales and the Queensland Law Society, South Pacific lawyers can access legal education and training programs at reduced rates.

Key Objectives for 2009-2010

The Steering Committee of the South Pacific Lawyers’ Association has set the following activities and objectives for 2009-2010:

  • Finalise and seek endorsement from members of a Constitution;
  • continue to develop the website;
  • Seek funding for initiatives to:
    • Assist members to developing continuing legal education programs;
    • Assist members to developing complaints and discipline handling procedures;
    • Develop a proposal for a ‘Model South Pacific Legal Professional Rules Project’.
  • Establish and maintain a database of South Pacific legal assistance programs provided by the Australian legal profession, Courts, and other institutions.

Structure

In May 2009, the Steering Committee approved the distribution to members of a draft constitution for the South Pacific Lawyers’ Association for comment and approval. Comments were sought by December 2009. At its meeting on 27 August, 2010, in Brisbane, the Steering Committee approved a final draft of the Constitution which will be distributed to members. Once the Constitution has been approved it will be available from this page.