FNU Fails to Deliver 2025 Moot

A face-saving exercise is now underway at the Fiji National University (FNU) after a series of debacles led to one of Fiji’s preeminent law schools, the University of Fiji, pulling out of the 2025 Inter-Tertiary Moot Competition.

The competition, a highlight of the legal education calendar, was successfully launched by the University of the South Pacific (USP) and widely praised for its professionalism. FNU won last year’s moot and was tasked with hosting this year’s edition, with responsibility formally handed over immediately after the 2024 event.

All three of Fiji’s law schools had confirmed participation, but at the last minute, FNU issued a second invitation to a parallel competition, creating confusion that saw USP withdraw from the original moot and ultimately the University of Fiji pull out altogether.

The timing of the invitation has also drawn criticism.

While last year’s moot was staged in July and August, this year’s preparations were left so late that students were already heading into exams and final assignments, making participation difficult.

FNU and USP now appear to be scrambling to save face following the cancellation of what was meant to be a critical showcase of legal education and advocacy in Fiji, and, despite the controversy, FNU has decided to continue with its version of the competition.

We noted that the university has largely downplayed publicity, with its Facebook page only posting a poster last night, describing it as “an inter-tertiary law schools moot competition”.

The absence of one of Fiji’s top law schools, however, directly contradicts that claim.

Questions remain over how the breakdown occurred, why preparations were left so late, and who at FNU bears responsibility for what many are calling an embarrassing failure to deliver.

We have sent questions to the university.