A training program to refine the skills of Samoan lawyers to effectively represent their clients in court was conducted this week at the court precinct at Mulinu'u.

The two-day training on Wednesday and Thursday this week was facilitated by New Zealand-based Judges Sanjay Patel, Gus Andrée Wiltens, and David McNaughton with the King's Counsel Marie Dyhrberg leading the team.

Lawyer and Chair of the Samoa Law Society's Professional Development Committee, Sala Josephine Stowers-Kolo, told the Samoa Observer on Thursday that the two-day training workshop is beneficial for local lawyers.

She said the objective of the training sessions was to continue the legal education of lawyers as judges rely on them to determine the legal process and the court rulings that follow.

"It is not to say that Samoan lawyers are not performing their roles right, but it is just a matter of gaining experience from outside to build our legal system," Ms. Stowers-Kolo said. 

"The workshop touched on the importance of the lawyer's preparations, and it has emphasised the importance of doing analysis prior to the actual court hearing.

"It also focuses on achieving justice by carefully studying the cases, preparing appropriate questions, and applying the law right."

According to the S.L.S. Committee Chair, the Samoa Government ran similar training, but usually for lawyers working for the Office of the Attorney General with limited opportunities for private lawyers. 

"It is a great chance for every lawyer to attend for better understanding as opportunities like this are limited to those in the private sector," she said.

Ms. Stowers-Kolo also confirmed the participation of around 50 National University of Samoa (N.U.S.) law students in the workshop, saying she was excited as they are future leaders of the legal fraternity in Samoa.

"They [N.U.S. law students] acted as our witnesses in the assignment given to us that we were to act out the previous cases to see how we are going to handle them, and it gives the students more ideas on court proceedings," said the S.L.S. Committee Chair. 

One of the participating N.U.S. law students, 17-year-old Vaimoana Vaai, told the Samoa Observer of the benefits for her and her peers attending the workshop.

"It benefited me to observe how cases are heard inside the courtroom. The feedback the lawyers today got from the judges helped me a lot in terms of improving my level of understanding on how to become an experienced lawyer in the future," Ms. Vaai said and recommended the two-day workshop involving the students become an annual program.