Almost 100 law students are strengthening their advocacy skills with Australian barristers this week, in a program facilitated by the Legal Training Institute and funded by the Australian Government.
For the fifteenth consecutive year, the LTI has invited members of the Victorian Bar to travel from Melbourne to Port Moresby to share their skills and experience pro-bono with 96 law students in the week-long civil and criminal advocacy program.
At the opening ceremony, attended by the Public Solicitor Mr. Jim Wala Tamate and the Australian High Commission, Justice Les Gavara-Nanu spoke to students about the importance of acting ethically and with integrity in all their future work. Acting Director of the Legal Training Institute, Mrs. Pauline Mogish urged students to make the most of the week with the barristers, saying the course was a crucial part of their learning before they become admitted as lawyers at the start of next year.
The training course aims to equip trainee lawyers with hands-on advocacy and litigation skills through practical training sessions including moot court situations. In this course, students have the opportunity to refine their skills, in particular in opening cases, obtaining evidence, non-leading questions, cross-examination, closing submissions and presenting pleas.
For the first time, the Victorian Bar will hold a two-day mentoring program for women LTI students at the end of the week. ‘Empowering Women in the law in PNG’ focuses on building confidence in and empowering women by engaging them on all aspects of advocacy and ethics as well as discussing critical issues in relation to their advancement within the profession. Following, participants are matched with professionals from the Victorian Bar and the judiciary in a mentoring program aimed at giving newly admitted women one-on-one support as they embark on their legal careers.
The advocacy workshop and mentoring program are funded by the Australian Government, as part of its commitment to strengthening law and justice in Papua New Guinea.
Pictured, standing: Legal Training Institute students, with barristers from the Victorian Bar.
Pictured, seated: Justice Christopher O’Neil, Australian High Commission Second Secretary Ms. Tess McSpedden, Justice Les Gavara-Nanu, Remy van de Wiel QC, Judge Liz Gaynor, Acting Director LTI Mrs. Pauline Mogish, and Public Solicitor Mr. Jim Wala Tamate.