Malaki Johnston Email and Phone Number

I am a junior criminal barrister currently employed in a small legal firm practicing in the Manukau District Court. I graduated from the University of Waikato in 2021 with a Bachelor of Laws and was admitted to the High Court in June 2021. I have been practicing as a criminal defence barrister now for just over one year. I am a life-long learner and was driven to study law for the technical challenge, the sense of achievement it offered, and the opportunity it allows for me to give back to the community. Having witnessed the dedication, the technical expertise, and the commitment that my father showed practicing criminal defence, I was inspired to become a defence lawyer myself and returned to study law in my late 20s.My bicultural Samoan upbringing has shown me the importance of upholding our culture, traditions, and values, especially when dealing with a Western-based legal system. I believe advocates in the justice system should reflect the communities that we represent to help promote the best interests of those we act on behalf of.