Maiava realises law dream

By Deidre Fanene 16 September 2018, 12:00AM

Maiavatele Timothy Tanielu Fesili, 32, of Siumu, Letogo, Falealupo and Papauta, is the newest lawyer to be admitted to the bar.

He was admitted before the Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiavasu’e Falefatu Sapolu in the presence of families, friends and colleagues on Friday.

“From today and everyday here after, you will be known and deserve to be known as a lawyer,” Chief Justice Patu said.

“It is as a lawyer that you will from now onwards present yourself to the public. It is what you do with your God-given talent that will define you as a lawyer.”

Chief Justice Patu said becoming an accomplished lawyer requires a lot of hard work, perseverance and good character.

“You will also find that to be truly effective in the practice of the law requires continuous study of the law,” he said.

In an interview with the Sunday Samoan, Maiava said his admission is the culmination of hard work and the support of everyone who helped him along the way.

The father of three graduated with a law degree from the University of Auckland in 2015. He said he has relatives who are lawyers and they motivated him to also follow in their footsteps.

“I guess it started from a young age,” Maiava said.

“There are lawyers in my family as well and there are a lot of people that I look up to and I told myself that one day I will be exactly like them and that’s what really got me into it and I want to see if I can help the community in any way.”

Another reason he wanted to be a lawyer is because it changes the way he sees things. 

“You can have one scenario and just like what the Chief Justice said that no cases are ever the same and it’s amazing how you see different lawyers interpret this one scenario.”

“And both can be convincing and those are some of the things I learned even in New Zealand. I learnt things there and then I come here and I learnt a lot of things here. I’m just amazed with the caliber (of lawyers we have).” 

Maiava was born in New Zealand, however he and his family moved here a year ago. He now works at the Public Service Commission.

He is the son of Poiva Fesili and Malaefono Iakopo.

“It’s been a year since we moved back to Samoa and it really is a change of lifestyle and also to see where I can contribute here. That was one reason I went straight to the Public Service Commission.”

“The justice system in Samoa is good and it’s just like the justice system in New Zealand, I mean it’s functioning and that’s the main thing,” Maiavatele said.

By Deidre Fanene 16 September 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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