BCLI Welcomes Executive Director of the Samoa Law Reform Commission

Recently appointed Samoa Law Reform Commission Executive Director, Ms. Leilani Tuala-Warren, spent two weeks with the BCLI in March 2009 as part of her fact-finding visit to Canada. The new Samoa Law Reform Commission was set up in November 2008 and Ms. Tuala-Warren was invited to spend some time with the BCLI to observe how we operate and carry out our law reform projects in British Columbia.  During her time at the Institute, Ms. Tuala-Warren was also able to attend the Federation of Law Reform Agencies of Canada Conference in Victoria, hosted by the BCLI.

Ms. Tuala-Warren also spent some time with the Alberta Law Reform Institute during her visit before heading back to Samoa to begin work on a number of law reform projects. One of the first areas of law reform that Ms. Tuala-Warren will be dealing with relates to a review of the criminal law legislation in Samoa.

Commenting on her time with the BCLI, Ms. Tuala-Warren said: "I am very grateful to all of the staff at the Institute for the help and advice they have given me. I have learned a great deal and have no doubt that the experience will prove invaluable to the success of the Samoa Law Reform Commission."

The BCLI was pleased to be able to present to Ms. Tuala-Warren several Canadian legal textbooks as a gift towards the establishment of a library at the Samoa Law Reform Commission. A number of other initiatives are also planned to provide future support for the Commission in Samoa.