2021 Fiji Law Society Annual Convention
29 October 2021
The Law Council of Australia and the South Pacific Lawyers’ Association (SPLA) – of which the Law Council is Secretariat – were invited to partner with the Fiji Law Society (FLS) to present its Annual Convention on 22-23 October 2021.
The FLS Convention is a flagship event for South Pacific lawyers, and the 2021 Virtual Convention was its most successful ever – attracting 365 delegates. The forward-thinking, varied programme featured speakers from Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, the Cook Islands, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the United States.
Fiji Law Society selected the Convention theme – ‘Beyond Law’ – to encourage lawyers to position themselves for the future of legal practice, build competencies in areas including technology, business and finance, and consider specialising in emerging areas of law. The programme incorporated sessions focusing on the accelerated future and the practice of law post-COVID-19, as well as a mix of sessions that introduce emerging substantive law areas and explore legal and regulatory issues.
Law Council President, Dr Jacoba Brasch QC, delivered the keynote address in the Convention Opening Ceremony on the theme ‘Beyond Law: 21st Century Lawyering’.
She also featured as a panellist in a session titled ‘The separation of powers: Preserving independence and preventing overreach.’ She was joined on the panel by:
- William Wylie Clarke, President of Fiji Law Society (Session Chair);
- Su’a Hellene Wallwork, Attorney General of Samoa;
- Steven Thiru, Vice President of LAWASIA and Vice President (Australasia) of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association;
- Geoffrey Watson SC, Centre of Public Integrity; and
- Laurel Vaurasi, past President of Fiji Law Society.
A copy of her speech is available here.
In recent months, the Law Council’s International Division and Dr Gordon Hughes AM, Chair of SPLA, assisted Fiji Law Society in developing the programme, securing Australian and international speakers, and organising the virtual conference platform.
Last Updated on 10/02/2022