CLA News / Why attending the 24th Commonwealth Law Conference 2025 Malta was an unforgettable experience: By Mariam Gagi
This year, the 24th Commonwealth Lawyers Association (“CLA”) conference took place by the Mediterranean Sea, in the beautiful archipelago of Malta. Malta has a rich history of a melody of cultures, including European, Middle-Eastern and African roots. Malta may be the tenth smallest country in the world, but it stands tall in heritage, culture, and this past April it hosted one of the legal profession’s most dynamic gatherings.
Lawyers, judges, and legal professionals from across the Commonwealth, including Canada, Nigeria, India, Australia, Jamaica, Malaysia, and many other jurisdictions gathered to exchange knowledge, discuss pressing legal issues, and celebrate shared legal traditions. While the CLA hosts many sessions and networking opportunities virtually throughout the year, their biennial in-person conference is a truly exceptional experience—rich with camaraderie, inspiration, and the unmistakable buzz of a global community united by the rule of law.
A Conference Fit for the Future
This year’s theme, “Commonwealth Lawyers – Fit for the Future,” captured its forward-looking agenda. Over four action-packed days (April 7–10, 2025), more than 500 attendees engaged in over 50 thought-provoking sessions, covering a wide spectrum of issues such as human rights, judicial dissents, the evolving duty of fairness, health and wellbeing in the legal profession, corporate accountability, financial innovation, and the emerging frameworks around AI governance.
Session Highlights
- Modern law fit for the future: the role and value of independent law reform agencies: Leading law reformers discussed the role and achievements of law reform agencies; the economic benefits of law reform; ways to modernise the law to prepare for the challenges of emerging technologies; and the relationship between law reform and legislative development
- Recent developments concerning the duty of fairness: A New Zealander judge, Canadian judge, Australian judge and a senior British lawyer joined forces to discuss jurisprudence from their respective jurisdictions that clarified the underlying value of fair procedures, substantive fairness (in comparison to procedural fairness) and when fairness requires a decision maker to allow an individual the opportunity to state their case.
- Navigating sanctions (while respecting the right to a defence and access to justice): Experienced commonwealth practitioners debated whether an independent legal profession can be constrained from giving advice or undertaking casework for a client who may be the subject of sanction (either individually or as a member of a class). The panelists also discussed the balance of the right of defence and access to justice in this context.
- Health and well being in the law: Commonwealth lawyers from Kenya, Australia and Canada shared practical tips on creating a healthy work environment and practice.
- Government lawyers: guardians of the rule of law: The CLA shined a spotlight on the work of government lawyers. Panelists discussed the non-partisan role of government lawyers and their role as guardians of the rule of law as typically overlooked yet a pivotal function in any democracy. The panel also discussed the various ways in which government lawyers are often the first to consider and opine on the legality of a public policy initiative, well before it is debated in the Legislative Assembly or brought through litigation.
- Judicial dissent: a pillar of democracy: Panelists shared key insights about how judicial dissents safeguard the integrity of judicial institutions, demonstrate weak links in the majority, and most importantly are a pillar of democracy.
Spotlight on the Next Generation: The Young Lawyers Programme
Led by the talented, Joanna Robinson (UK), the Young Lawyers programme was a refreshing and insightful day for young lawyers around the commonwealth. Young practitioners learned from senior and experienced practitioners who shared best practices, challenges, and experiences that encouraged everyone in attendance about their future career in law. The day kicked off with a keynote address on navigating the legal profession, pursuing purpose-driven work, and making an impact in complex fields like energy and infrastructure. Young lawyers than had the opportunity to hear on best practices for oral advocacy, written submissions, ethics in action, and thriving in a high-pressure legal environment.
Conclusion: A Future-Ready Commonwealth Legal Community
The 24th CLA Conference in Malta was more than a legal forum—it was a celebration of community, tradition, and progress. Lawyers and judges built new relationships and shared the joys and challenges of lawyering in the 21st century. This year’s CLA conference reaffirmed the power of the commonwealth’s shared legal heritage to adapt and innovate in a rapidly changing world. Under the guiding theme “Fit for the Future,” the conference empowered legal professionals to reflect on their roles not just as practitioners of law, but as stewards of justice, democracy, and the rule of law.
Mariam Gagi
Crown Counsel, Office of the Attorney General, Ontario
Profile:
Mariam Gagi was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2021. She is Crown Counsel with Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General. As Crown Counsel, she advises on and litigates a variety of public law matters. She is involved with Ontario’s Association of Law Officers of the Crown, the Canadian Association of Crown Counsel and Voices for Mental Health.
Mariam earned her law degree from the University of Ottawa and completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto specialising in Bioethics and majoring in Human Biology.
