BY JOY OFASIA
Belinda Atoa has achieved a major milestone in her life after being officially admitted to practice as a lawyer in the National and Supreme Courts of Papua New Guinea.
The admission ceremony took place at the Banco Court at the New National Law Courthouse in Papua New Guinea, where His Honor Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika officially welcomed her to the legal profession. During the ceremony, Belinda earned the title “Counsel Atoa B” and proudly signed her name on the Roll of PNG Lawyers.
For the 26-year-old from Malaita Province, the moment was emotional and unforgettable. She was also the only Solomon Islander among the 94 new lawyers called to the Bar that day.
Speaking to SOLOMON WOMEN, Belinda described the occasion as one of the proudest moments of her life.
“It was indeed a humble and proud moment for me as the only Solomon Islander among the 94 new lawyers called to the Bar,” she said.
Belinda grew up in the village of Uatae in the eastern region of Malaita Province, where she was raised by her grandparents. Life in the village shaped her understanding of leadership, respect, and justice from a very young age.
Her grandfathers were village chiefs, and through them she learned the importance of community laws and the consequences people face when those laws are broken.
“As a child, I learned a lot from my grandparents and village elders. They taught me about respect, responsibility, and the importance of doing what is right,” she said.
But Belinda’s childhood was not always easy. She shared that she experienced bullying and abuse while growing up, and many times her voice was ignored when she tried to speak up for herself.
“I experienced bullying and abuse. Many times, when I tried to speak up for myself, my voice went unheard. This planted a seed in me: a deep resolve that one day I would speak, and people would listen,” she said.
Those difficult experiences became part of the reason she decided to pursue a career in law.
Belinda said her dream of becoming a lawyer began when she was only in Grade One. The person who inspired her most was her uncle, George Molakah Atoa, the first person in their family to study law.
She remembered watching him closely whenever he returned home during university holidays.
“My goal became clear during his university holidays. I would watch him doing his work on his laptop, reading magazines and newspapers. He showed my grandmother and me photos of his friends at university and the people of Papua New Guinea,” she said.
“Seeing him travel by plane to study law across the sea inspired me to stick to my dream, no matter what.”
Throughout her journey, Belinda said many people helped shape her life and character. She credits her teachers, grandparents, village elders, Sunday school teachers, and her uncle for guiding her.
“My teachers shared the foundational knowledge I needed to succeed. My grandparents and elders imparted traditional wisdom and character. My Sunday school teachers taught me to live according to the Word of God, and my uncle mentored me on the realities of the legal profession,” she said.
Belinda described herself as someone deeply passionate about helping people find justice. Her main interests are Criminal Law and Family Law because she believes these areas directly affect the lives of ordinary people.
She explained that family problems and child neglect are becoming common in society, and she hopes to use her legal career to help address these issues.
“I am passionate about ensuring parents remain responsible for their children and are held accountable for their failures in domestic duties,” she said.
One of the most memorable moments in her legal journey happened last year while she was working as a Paralegal Officer at the Legal Aid Division of the Legal Training Institute in Papua New Guinea.
Belinda was assigned to represent a client in a criminal case for the very first time. The client had already spent six months in custody. Together with her colleagues, she decided to apply for bail.
Despite appearing before what she described as a very strict Magistrate, Belinda successfully argued the case. Not only was bail granted, but the entire case was struck out and the client was discharged.
“It was a proud moment. The Magistrate expressed her satisfaction with my performance, and the atmosphere in the courtroom was one of pure joy,” she recalled.
For Belinda, becoming a lawyer is more than just a personal success. She sees it as a responsibility to serve people and uphold justice with honesty and integrity.
“To be recognized by the court as a fit and proper person is a profound honour. It means I am now trusted to uphold the pillars of justice and carry the weight of the legal profession with integrity,” she said.
Belinda admitted that the road to becoming a lawyer was not easy. There were struggles, sacrifices, and moments when she felt like giving up. But her faith in God and the support of her family kept her moving forward.
“As I finally took the oath I had worked so hard for, I felt a massive sense of relief. I shed tears of gratitude, realizing that all the struggles and the refusal to give up had finally led me here,” she said.
She also expressed heartfelt appreciation to everyone who supported her journey.
“All glory and praise to the Lord for bringing me this far. Without Him, I would have given up long ago,” she said.
Belinda thanked her grandparents, parents Thompson and Mary Atoa, her aunties, uncles, family in Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands Government for supporting her education and legal training.
She gave special recognition to her uncle George Atoa, whom she calls “Dad,” for inspiring her dream and supporting her every step of the way.
“You were my inspiration growing up and the reason I chose this career,” she said.
Today, Belinda hopes her story will inspire other young Solomon Islanders, especially girls from rural communities, to believe in themselves and never give up on their dreams.
“To aspiring lawyers, do not view the law simply as a career or a way to earn money. See it as a calling. You are part of a profession dedicated to building a better society and fostering a law-abiding nation,” she advised.
