Delivery of a highly successful series of training sessions in Port Moresby to help build the skills of Papua New Guinea government lawyers was one of the highlights of AGS's increasingly busy pro bono program this year.
The training was hosted by the PNG Department of Justice and Attorney-General (DJAG). AGS lawyers Catherine Langman and Sally Davis presented 3 courses, each of which was run a number of times. The Understanding Legislation course was designed for non-lawyers and covered the basics of what legislation is and how it fits into the PNG legal system. The Statutory Interpretation and Advice Writing courses were designed for lawyers.
Over the week, the lawyers trained 159 participants. Feedback on the training was overwhelmingly positive. The PNG DJAG Secretary, Dr Lawrence Kalinoe, praised the 'wonderful job' AGS did and said that, 'PNG public servants enthusiastically welcomed the training. As well as the many officers from the department that attended, officers from 11 other agencies also attended the training. This is a wonderful result for my country.'
AGS also provided mentoring in practice management. In June we hosted a study tour by PNG Solicitor General, Neville Devete and members of his office during which AGS's senior managers shared their experience of managing a modern government legal practice.
This is an extract from the 2009–10 AGS annual report