Sixteen Tongan legal practitioners will study in Tonga for a UK Diploma in Law under a new programme supported by the British High Commission in Nuku'alofa.

In announcing the UK assistance yesterday, the British High Commissioner to Tonga, Mr Paul Nessling, said the initiative is being managed by the Tonga Law Society in conjunction with the University of London External Programme for Law. "Approximately TOP$30,000 is being made available as a contribution towards the first year registration and fees."

The 16 locally qualified lawyers will be registered for the UK Diploma in Law, which is equivalent to the first full year of study for a LL.B degree.

Mr Laki Niu, President of the Tonga Law Society, said that although the there were 63 members in the society, much of the legal service in Tonga is provided by the 16 law practitioners who were qualified locally with diplomas in law, granted by the extension division of the University of the South Pacific, based in Fiji." These individuals provide the bulk of the everyday legal services in Tonga."

However, for the last three years Mr Niu said the Chief Justice had not admitted any more people to the roll of practitioners unless they were LL.B holders from a recognised university. Locally qualified practitioners were required to take further studies with the ultimate aim of attaining LL.B degrees in order that the courts and the public are served by properly qualified law practitioners. Because most practitioners were unable to leave Tonga for further education, the external programme from the University of London offered a solution. Students stay in their own country but all examination papers are sent to London to be marked.

Mr Niu said that Tonga is a Common Law legal system deriving from its time as a protectorate of the United Kingdom (1900-1970), and there were great similarities between the common law systems of England and Wales, Australia and New Zealand.