Public and private lawyers have benefited from a four-day training workshop in Honiara, aimed at building capability to appear in court proceedings and advocate for clients.
Key sessions included case theories, cross-examination techniques, expert evidence, objections and closing addresses, along with practical exercises, mock trials, and real-time feedback to strengthen courtroom advocacy and ethical practice.
The training was designed not only to build technical skills but also to foster ethical and strategic thinking in defence practice, and to ensure that trials are conducted with integrity and fairness.
Funded by the Australian Government and facilitated by the Victorian Bar Association, the workshop brought together 43 lawyers from across the country, including 18 private practitioners from the Solomon Islands Bar Association (SIBA) and 25 Public Solicitor’s Office lawyers, with participants also travelling from Makira and Western Province.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, George Hoa’au, commended the dedication of the young legal professionals participating in the training.
“This training is a crucial initiative to enhance the courtroom confidence and competence of our legal professionals,” said Hoa’au.
Australian High Commissioner, Rod Hilton, said the initiative reflects Australia’s ongoing commitment to a fair and robust law and justice system in Solomon Islands.
“This workshop is a testament to the collaborative spirit and mutual respect that underpin the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership,” said High Commissioner Hilton.
“It also reflects a shared vision for a law and justice system that is fair, ethical, and accessible to all.”
Five senior barristers from the Victorian Bar delivered the training, offering their time and expertise to support local legal professionals.
Special thanks were extended to the Public Solicitor George Gray and to SIBA President Peter Teddy for championing the involvement of both public and private practitioners – the first time both sides of the legal profession have joined together under this training.