Update: 4:19PM TWENTY-five-year old Ratu Filimone Tuivanualevu Ralogaivau was overjoyed being one of the 20 new legal practitioners who was admitted to the Bar before Chief Justice Anthony Gates in Suva earlier today.
Mr Ralogaivau who hails from Bua Lomanikoro in Bua, Vanua Levu said he would not have come this far if it was not for the support of his family.
“It took me five years of studies, it had been a tough journey for me but I made it,” Mr Ralogaivau said.
“I wish to thank my family for their loving support and the Almighty God for his guidance and support in me throughout my term of study.
“I am just so grateful for today and look forward to the challenges that lie ahead of me.”
Chief Justice Anthony Gates congratulated all the law graduates of the University of the South Pacific (USP) and reminded the new legal practitioners that achievement brought with it greater responsibility.
“I hope you remain humble, and that you treat the people you will now encounter in practice, court staff, media, witnesses, and fellow counsel with due courtesy and respect, respect begets respect,” Justice Gates said.
“Not all of you will seek a career at the Bar. Some will seek a place in a government department, statutory body, some will work overseas, some will teach and some may join non-governmental organisations.
“The world is a competitive place. As a lawyer, you will need to learn to be thorough also, making sure not to miss anything, lawyers are employed to check things, to make doubly sure.”
