SOME lawyers in Fiji earn less than $200 per week, Attorney-General Graham Leung. He told the Fiji Law Society annual convention in Nadi that when he was admitted to the Bar 42 years ago, Fiji had no law schools and the only lawyers in the country went overseas to study. Mr Leung said the situation today was quite different, with three universities churning out law graduates in assembly line fashion.
“However, there is no corresponding increase in legal jobs and I know of some young lawyers who earn as little as $200 a week,” Mr Leung said. “I am told that others are still looking for full-time employment, years after qualifying.” Mr Leung said it must be very depressing for those attracted to a legal career, with the expectation of a financially-rewarding job, and the supposed status and benefits one associates with it.
“When I started out as a young lawyer, there were probably 300 lawyers in the country. “Today there are about 2366 legal practitioners on the roll and about 1115 of them hold current practicing certificates. “Half of those admitted are not practising law as such, so where are the rest hiding, one might ask.
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