Decision entirely on Chief Registrar

The decision on whether legal practitioners would be allowed to practice law and solicit legal advice to the public will be made solely by the Chief Registrar of the High Courts and no one else.

The Acting Chief Registrar Ana Rokomokoti has confirmed that as per the Legal Practitioners Decree 2009, the power to issue the practicing certificate is vested in the Chief Registrar alone.

The decree will apply to all legal practitioners, including those lawyers employed by Private companies and organisations and government statutory bodies.

However, state lawyers, including those employed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution are exempted and are not required to obtain a practicing certificate.

As per the decree issued by the President Ratu Josefa Iiloilo last week, all legal practitioners in the country will have to re-apply for their practicing certificates with the Chief Registrar of the High court as their licenses will expire on the 30th of next month.

The lawyers have until June 15th to re-apply for their practicing certificates and must fulfill the requirements in the decree to be eligible to practice law in the country.

Several lawyers Fijivillage spoke to say they are preparing to re-apply for their practicing certificate as their livelihood depends on it.