43rd Pacific Islands Law Officers’ Network Annual Meeting
7 November 2024
On 29-31 October the 43rd Pacific Islands Law Officers’ Network (PILON) Annual Meeting was held in Denarau, Fiji. PILON is a network of senior law officers from 19 Pacific Island countries, including Australia and New Zealand, who work together to contribute to a safe and secure Pacific by advancing key law and justice issues.
Caption (L-R): Mr Wylie Clarke, President, Fiji Law Society; Dr Gordon Hughes AM; Dominic Harvey-Taylor, Policy Lawyer, International Division, LCA.
Dr Gordon Hughes AM attended the Annual Meeting in his capacity as Chair of the South Pacific Lawyers’ Association (SPLA), and was joined by Dominic Harvey-Taylor, Policy Lawyer (International).
Caption (L-R): Dominic Harvey-Taylor, Policy Lawyer, International Division, LCA and Dr Gordon Hughes AM.
SPLA is the regional body for the South Pacific legal profession, and is formally comprised of law societies, bar associations and lawyers’ groups representing 16 South Pacific jurisdictions. The Law Council’s International Division has acted as SPLA’s Secretariat since its inception in 2011.
SPLA was invited to attend the Annual Meeting as an observer member of PILON, alongside country representatives and delegates of other regional Pacific law and justice organisations, including the Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute (PacLII), the University of the South Pacific and the Pacific International Maritime Law Association.
During the Annual Meeting, Dr Hughes delivered a presentation on the work of the SPLA, emphasising the importance of continuing legal education for the profession and identified the needs and priorities communicated by Pacific law societies and bar associations in the region.
Caption: Dr Gordon Hughes AM delivering presentation on SPLA.
Dr Hughes also took the opportunity to meet with the Attorney-General of Fiji, Mr Graham Leung, and the President of Fiji Law Society, Mr Wylie Clarke, to discuss Fiji’s engagement with regional legal professional organisations including SPLA and LAWASIA, as well as opportunities for collaboration between Australia and Fiji.
Caption (L-R): Dr Gordon Hughes AM and Mr Graham Leung, Attorney-General of the Republic of Fiji.
Last Updated on 22/11/2024