Plans to establish a law school at Tonga National University (TNU) have received support from senior members of the judiciary, who have offered to help develop a proposed Bachelor of Laws programme.

Lord Chief Justice Malcolm Bishop KC, Justice Edward Targowski KC, Lord Dalgety KC and Justice Tavake Afeaki visited TNU’s Pahu campus last month, where they shared their experiences from judicial work in Tonga and overseas.

TNU said the judges had offered their legal expertise to help scope the curriculum for a Bachelor of Laws degree and related programmes.

A key recommendation was that the proposed programme should focus on laws relevant to Tonga and the needs of Tongan people.

The judges also supported TNU as the institution to deliver the programmes and endorsed the university’s work in Tongan language and culture.

The proposed law school would provide another pathway for students seeking legal education in Tonga, although TNU has not yet announced when a law programme could begin. Curriculum development is still being scoped.

TNU’s establishment of additional schools requires consultation with the Minister and Cabinet consent under the Tonga National University Act 2021.

The university currently offers programmes from certificate to postgraduate level across four faculties and 12 schools.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Giulio Masasso Tuʻikolongahau Pāunga welcomed the judiciary’s involvement.

“I am grateful and honoured for the tremendous support; I couldn’t ask for anything better than this,” Dr Pāunga said.

The initiative comes as TNU continues to develop its role as Tonga’s national university, including expanding locally based higher education opportunities.