(Left to Right) Law Lecturer, Lily Mausio, Assistant Professor Ana Rokomokoti, Assistant Professor Jalesi Nakarawa, and Lecturers, Ana Lomani and Milika Ligabalavu.

A new era is in sight for the Fiji National University’s Department of Law.

The department that was traditionally under the FNU’s College of Business, Hospitality and Tourism Studies (CBHTS) for the last 10 years, will be relocating to College of Humanities and Education by Semester 1, 2025.

Consequentially, CHE formally changes its name College of Humanities, Education and Law (CHEL).

FNU’s Head of Law School, Ana Rokomokoti – Assistant Professor in Law, said the relocation also included the concurrent conversion of the Department of Law into the School of Law, Governance and Ethics.

“This is an enormous progress for FNU Law and a milestone for the University,” said Rokomokoti.

“The year 2024 marks a decade of the inception and implementation of the Bachelor of Laws and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice programmes.”

Assistant Professor Rokomokoti also highlighted that despite the tides of uncertainty faced at various junctures of the FNU Law journey, it was worthwhile, as the future presented an unlimited potential for the newly reformed school.

“Whilst it is sad to be parting ways with the CBHTS under which Law has been sheltered ably for the last 10 years, it’s just as exciting to be venturing into a new phase, space with a brand-new label,” she said.

“The Law School has the opportunity to be more visible and discernable.”

Additionally, she looks forward to building a stronger academic team in Law and focusing on producing ‘practice-ready lawyers’ to meet the needs of the legal profession, especially in training lawyers who are adaptable to a rapidly changing world.

FNU April Graduation 

Assistant Professor Rokomokoti added that this year’s April graduation also marked a new beginning for the team.

She said there was a strong commitment towards recognising women’s contribution in Law and to reflect the commitment, there were a good number of women lecturers who were currently teaching at FNU and simultaneously become able mentors for students.

“For the first time, an award for Top Academic Performing Student is also being handed out, in the hope to inspire others to strive for academic excellence,” she added.

“The 2024 Graduation witnesses a good number of Bachelor of Law graduates which is an achievement. FNU offers a Bachelor of Laws, a four-year programme, after which graduates are given an opportunity to pursue a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.”