29 new lawyers admitted into bar
Friday August 17, 2007

Fiji's legal fraternity has welcomed 29 new lawyers after Acting Chief Justice Anthony Gates admitted them into the bar today.

Justice Gates after admitting the new lawyers who are graduates of the University of the South Pacific, asked them to commit themselves to their profession with integrity.

He said they would need to act with humility and not to be arrogant and to act with courtesy with their colleagues and the bench.

"Remember you have joined a very noble profession and you should be fair to your opponents and their clients and at the same time promote the interests of your clients," Justice Gates said.

He told the new lawyers never to deceive the courts of the legal system and to always preserve its integrity.

Justice Gates also asked them to contribute to the poor litigants by providing their services to the Legal Aid Commission, which provides legal services to people unable to secure lawyers in Fiji's legal system.

The new lawyers comprised of young USP graduates to a 52-year-old Kadavu grandfather Semi Tinivatu, "a young man" whom Justice Gates welcomed into the bar.

The President of the Fiji Law Society Davenesh Sharma along with the Society's Vice President Tupou Draunidalo as well as prominent lawyers, politicians and the new lawyers' family members were present during today's ceremony.