PORT VILA, DECEMBER 1: The Office of the Public Solicitor (OPS) unanimously endorsed an ambitious reform program at its 2025 Annual Planning Conference. Marking an important milestone in the Office’s long-term efforts to strengthen legal aid services across Vanuatu, lawyers from across the country concluded detailed consideration of the Consultative and Policy Paper for the proposed Public Solicitor Act 2026.
The OPS plays a vital role in defending human rights, providing legal advice and representation in criminal, civil and family law cases, and supporting vulnerable groups including women, children and marginalised communities. Operating permanent offices in Port Vila, Santo, Tanna and Malekula, with circuit work to other islands, the OPS works to ensure that people across Vanuatu can access timely and fair legal support. The Office continues to face significant pressures, including rising case numbers, increasing legal complexity, and a current backlog of more than 600 active files.
This year’s conference in Port Vila was the first convened by Acting Public Solicitor, Ms Jane Tari, and the most significant OPS conference in many years. Across 34 hours of discussion and analysis, staff approved the Consultative and Policy Paper that forms the foundation for the proposed Public Solicitor Act 2026, alongside major organisational plans including the new Staff Manual, new Finance Regulations and the 2026 Business Plan.
“Our mission at the Office is to serve as many people as we can across the country. To deliver on that goal we need to reform our internal processes and reimagine our role within the justice
system,” said Ms Tari.
“The existing Public Solicitor Act is more than 40 years old and no longer reflects the demands placed on the OPS under our constitutional mandate. Despite the dedication of our lawyers across the country, we recognise that changes are required. The Office is significantly understaffed, under-resourced, and facing rapidly increasing caseloads. The conference provided a unique opportunity to consider our policy reforms and the role the Office can play to strengthen the justice system into the future.”
Key gaps in the current legislation affect governance, service delivery, and the ability of the office to meet its constitutional responsibilities. These include the absence of a modern statutory framework for legal aid, limited powers for the Public Solicitor to delegate or appoint deputies, no mechanisms for cost recovery, and no statutory protections for independence or adequate resourcing.
OPS staff contributions have helped shape the next phase of the OPS Reform Program, including preparations for the 2026 Supplementary Budget and the legislative process for the new Act. Representatives of the Vanuatu Law Reform Commission (VLRC) attended the conference as part of their formal consultation process, marking a significant step forward in legislative preparation.