General Practice Law at Papua New Guinea
General practice law in Papua New Guinea (PNG) typically involves a broad range of legal services offered by lawyers or law firms that do not specialize in one specific area of law. Instead, they provide legal advice and representation across multiple legal fields, especially helpful in a country like PNG where access to highly specialized legal services may be limited in more rural areas.
Here's an overview of general practice law in PNG:
📚 Areas Covered by General Practice Lawyers in PNG
Land and Property Law
Customary land ownership (major issue in PNG, where over 90% of land is held under customary law)
Land titles and disputes
Leases and land registration under the Land Act
Family Law
Marriage, divorce, and custody (influenced by both statutory and customary law)
Domestic violence cases
Maintenance and child support
Criminal Law
Representation in criminal trials, both in District and National Courts
Bail applications
Legal aid or duty counsel services
Civil Litigation
Contract disputes
Employment matters
Torts (like negligence or defamation)
Probate and Wills
Drafting wills
Letters of administration for estates
Customary inheritance issues
Business and Commercial Law
Setting up companies (regulated under the Companies Act 1997)
Drafting commercial contracts
Debt recovery and insolvency
⚖️ Legal System Context
PNG has a mixed legal system, combining common law (inherited from Australia and the UK), statutory law, and customary law.
The Constitution (1975) is the supreme law, and many disputes are influenced by local customs, especially in areas like land, family, and inheritance.
🏛️ Key Legal Institutions
Magisterial Services – Handles lower-level criminal and civil matters.
National Court & Supreme Court – Higher courts that handle appeals and significant civil/criminal cases.
Office of the Public Solicitor – Offers free legal representation in criminal and some civil matters.
Law Society of Papua New Guinea – Regulates legal practitioners.
🤝 Challenges for General Practice Lawyers in PNG
Navigating conflicts between customary and formal laws.
Legal literacy and access to justice are still limited in rural communities.
Infrastructure and resource limitations for court operations in remote areas.
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