The professional and regulatory home of every lawyer in Papua New Guinea.
Established under the Lawyers Act 1986, the PNG Law Society is the statutory body that admits and licenses lawyers, registers law firms, sets and enforces professional-conduct rules, accredits continuing professional development, and represents the profession on questions of law reform and access to justice.
A statutory profession
Part II of the Lawyers Act 1986 constitutes the Society and confers powers of admission, licensing, discipline and representation. Membership of the Society is mandatory for anyone who wishes to practise law in PNG.
Lawyers and firms
Individual lawyers hold a Practising Certificate (Unrestricted, Restricted, In-House, Government, or Student) renewed annually. Law firms are separately registered by category — sole practitioner, small, medium, large, in-house, or public office.
LAWASIA member
The Society is a member of the Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA) and will host the LAWASIA Environmental Law Conference in Port Moresby in 2026.
"Our work — admission, licensing, discipline, and representation — exists so the public can have confidence in the lawyer they walk into a room with."