Legal Practitioners Act 2009 to be reviewed

The coalition government will review the Legal Practitioners Act 2009.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the current Act was promulgated in 2009, replacing the Legal Practitioners Act 1997 which is a framework to regulate the legal profession and the practice of law in Fiji.

He says the current law is considered onerous for lawyers in Fiji, and lacking in some instances.

Rabuka adds there is a need for modernisation of the law, for example to update the right to practice requirement, as well as consider emerging areas of the law.

He says a holistic review of the Act will facilitate more effective regulation of the legal profession, and safeguard the independence of the profession.

The PM says the review will also ensure that our law is aligned to international best practices to enhance the professional standards of legal practitioners.