The legal profession requires dignity and integrity.

This was the statement made by the Acting Chief Justice, Kamal Kumar while admitting 50 new lawyers to the bar today.

Kumar says as new lawyers, they have a vital role in the legal system and it is a role that should not be taken lightly.

“As lawyers, you will be entrusted to solve problems faced by members of our communities in terms of their properties, home, finances, business dealings, and family matters.”

After going from being a carpenter to becoming a fully-fledged lawyer, Rusiate Veibuli said it was a struggle, but it was worth it.

“My father is a fisherman, my mother is a villager, When I’m in that situation in my extended family, I was able to go through all these difficulties and challenges, how to get the fees.”

For 38-year old Loqi Cati, sacrificing two years from his legal training to take care of his bedridden mother didn’t stop him from returning to pursue his studies.

For I took a break in 2nd semester in 2015, the whole of 2016 and 2017, there were a lot of factors, had to raise some funds, in addition to that, my mother suffered from a stroke.

New lawyer, 23-year-old Akash Prasad says leaving Labasa to come to school in Suva was hard.

“When I came to Suva in 2015 there was a lot of struggle according to my place, culture shock, and a total transition.”

Fifty new lawyers were admitted to the bar today, 38 women and 12 men.