The Office of the Public Solicitor (OPS) has reformed its operations to improve citizens’ access to justice. Despite disruptions caused by COVID-19, the office took on more than 3300 active cases in 2020 – more than double the number it handled four years ago.
Figures compiled by the OPS show its lawyers opened 1274 new civil cases, 948 new criminal cases and 99 new land files last year alone. Additionally, OPS has enhanced its legal aid service to increase citizens’ access to justice regardless of their financial position.
These changes were made possible following an extensive restructure undertaken over four years, with support from the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership. This boosted efficiency and directed more resources to frontline services, such as legal aid.
Public Solicitor Leslie Mamu said it was rewarding to see the significant improvement in the service provided by the OPS.
“Since 2017, the Office has undergone a difficult process of reform, but we are now seeing the fruits of all that effort,” Mr Mamu said.
“The OPS has an essential role to play in PNG’s legal system to ensure that people everywhere can access legal advice and support they need.
The data show that this Office is now better placed to meet this need. Providing legal aid is about providing all citizens with access to justice.”
Under these reforms, more lawyers and staff have been hired, specialist areas such as family law and a Land Division have been established and a centralised case database developed. All 19 provincial Branch Offices and Legal Aid Desks have been re-opened and a dedicated network connecting provincial offices with OPS national headquarters has been installed.
Reforms to improve the quality and accessibility of legal aid are part of Australia’s support for more accountable, legitimate and responsive law and justice agencies and services in PNG.