THIRTY legal practitioners were admitted to the Bar before Chief Justice Salesi Temo at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on Friday last week.
Justice Temo urged the newly-admitted lawyers to understand their role in the courtroom and to approach their profession with integrity.
“You don’t make decisions in the court, that’s the job of resident magistrate and judge,” Justice Temo said.
“Your job is to persuade the judge or that magistrate to go your way.”
He reminded the new practitioners that their responsibility was to present their clients’ cases professionally and persuasively while respecting the role of the court in making the final decision.
Justice Temo also stressed the importance of honesty when charging clients for legal services.
“You charge your clients for the work that you do, but I ask you to please charge them honestly and do not charge them excessively.”
The admission marks an important milestone for the 30 practitioners as they begin their careers in Fiji’s legal profession.
Justice Temo’s message highlighted the need for the new lawyers to balance their professional responsibilities with fairness, honesty and respect for the justice system.
