Under the Public Solicitors Office (PSO) expansion plans, people will be able to access legal aid for land disputes and improved access to child welfare and family law services, according to the Public Solicitor Leslie Mamu, speaking at the 60th anniversary celebration of the PSO.
He also revealed that the number of lawyer is expected to increase from 82 to more than 100 in the next year to help provide services in these areas of legal services.
He said the expansion was necessary to fulfil the PSO’s ambition to provide legal services for the “vast majority” of Papua New Guineans who could not afford to hire their own lawyer.
“The aspiration of our forefathers was for this Office to provide legal services for the disadvantaged who do not have the means to pay for private lawyers,” Mr Mamu said.
He added that there was an increase in land disputes but current services did not cater for that. PSO’s expansion to provide legal aid on land matters was bringing into fruition those aspirations.
The PSO’s increased focus on human rights, juvenile justice, children protection and family law reflected the greater attention these matters were receiving at the national level.
“Parliament has recently put more emphasis on these areas. The Family Protection Act, the Juvenile Justice Act, land reforms currently underway with the establishment of the Family Court and the Office of Child and Family Services,” Mr Mamu said.
The Office was established in 1958 as a unit contained within the-then Department of Law, staffed by four lawyers. At independence in 1975 it was granted constitutional status as a separate institution, but did not achieve full autonomy until 2006, when it was separated from the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.
Ongoing improvements to the PSO’s operations is being supported by the Australian Government through the Justice Services and Stability for Development Program.
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Public Solicitor Leslie Mamu (r) with former Public Solicitors including Justice Jim Wala Tamate (third from right), Sir Arnold Amet (third from left) and Justice Frazer Pitpit (second from left) at celebrations marking the PSO's 60th anniversary.