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Practice Direction No. 7 [1995] TOLawRp 27 (1 January 1995)

[1995] Tonga LR 219

Practice Direction No.7 of 1995

Re: Enrolment of Persons as Law Practitioners
(the Law Practitioners Act 1989)

Enrolment as a Law Practitioner is governed by section 5 of the Law Practitioners Act 1989.

The Chief Justice may enrol a person if the Chief Justice is satisfied -

"(a) that the parson has sufficient professional knowledge and experience and training in a common law jurisdiction; and
(b) as to the persons character and his suitability to be a law practitioner; and
(c) that the person intends to practise in Tonga as a law practitioner."

I wish to formalise and regularise the procedure for application for enrolment.

In future such Applications should be made in writing to this Court and should be accompanied by an Affidavit, made by the Applicant, setting out:-

(a) the full names and the date of birth of the Applicant;
(b) in detail the applicant's professional knowledge, experience and training and annexing, where appropriate, certificates and/or other documentation showing relevant qualifications, experience and training.
(c) whether the Applicant has any criminal or quasi - criminal convictions or not; and, if the Applicant has any such conviction(s), the dates, places, penalties and other circumstances of such conviction(s);
(d) the Applicant's belief that she or he is suitable to be enrolled as a law practitioner and annexing as exhibits either -

• (i) two (at least) character references from reputable persons; or
• (ii) satisfactory proof of current enrolment and a current practising cerificate (or equivalents) in some other jurisdiction

and in any event, as well annexing a letter from the Tonga Law Society setting out that Society's view of the Application;
(e) the Applicant's intention to practise law in Tonga.

If a decision is made that the Application should be granted and the Applicant's name placed on the Roll of Law Practitioners then, unless the Applicant does not desire it, the formal pronouncement will be made in open Court at the next convenient sitting of the Court.