By Sabrina Tabi
Copyright dailypost
Law students from the University of the South Pacific (USP) and USP Law School alumni participated in an intensive, week-long legal training workshop at the Emalus Campus in Port Vila from 8 to 12 September 2025.
The workshops were organised in partnership with DLA Piper, a leading international law firm known for its commitment to pro bono work and global access to justice initiatives.
The program included two concurrent streams: a Climate Change Negotiations Workshop and a Legal Practical Skills Workshop.
The Climate Change Negotiations Workshop brought together USP Law alumni currently working in legal offices and firms across Port Vila, alongside current law students. The Legal Practical Skills Workshop focused on Law Clinic students, offering practice-based training in core legal competencies.
DLA Piper, with offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific, facilitated the workshops through its pro bono program.
The Climate Change Negotiations Workshop focused on international negotiation frameworks. Elvira Cullwick, a law student from Vanuatu, said the workshop initially challenged her understanding of the concepts.
“However, as the workshop continued, I found it very interesting and a privilege to be part of it. Considering we live with the irreversible impacts of climate change, gaining insight into what climate negotiations involve was quite an eye-opener,” she said.
The Legal Practical Skills Workshop aimed to strengthen students’ abilities in key legal areas. Topics included the rule of law, legal aid, pro bono work, client interviewing, drafting file notes, and writing letters of legal advice.
The workshops provided participants with practical, real-world skills essential for both their academic and professional legal careers. Fala Kaitu, a final-year law student from Tonga studying at Emalus Campus, said the workshop was extremely valuable.
“It gave me practical legal skills and showed me how the law can be used to help our communities. I’ve come away inspired to apply what I’ve learned in my future work,” he said.
Both workshops concluded successfully on 12 September, with participants receiving certificates for their completion. Law Clinic students resumed their duties at the USP Community Law Information Centre on 15 September 2025 after the mid-semester break.
The Community Law Information Centre at USP’s Emalus Campus is run by final-year law students under the supervision of a qualified lawyer (Centre Manager). The Centre provides free legal assistance in areas including family law (divorce, child custody, maintenance orders, and Domestic Violence Protection Orders), tort law (personal injuries, motor vehicle accidents, and defamation), contract law, employment law, criminal law (including bail applications and sentencing), and other legal matters as needed.
The Centre is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, except on public holidays and during mid-semester breaks. Walk-ins are welcome, or appointments can be made by calling 22210 or emailing cathy.hite@usp.ac.fj
To improve accessibility, the Centre provides services in English and Bislama, with brochures also available in English, French, and Bislama, ensuring clients from all backgrounds can access the support they need.
