The Office of the Attorney General is hiring a young local law school graduate, Ms. Hila D. Asanuma, as a new Assistant Attorney General (AAG).
“I am super excited about another Palauan working in this office as I am hoping that after gaining some experience, these young Palauan lawyers will eventually be qualified to fill other positions in the government and became next Attorney Generals in Palau,” expressed Attorney General Ernestine Rengiil in her letter to Vice President and Minister of Justice Raynold B. Oilouch early this month of her decision to hire Ms. Asanuma.
Ms. Hila Asanuma graduated from Thomas A. Cooley Law School in Michigan with her Juris Doctor degree (cum laude) in May of this year.
AG Rengiil said that Asanuma had done internship with AG’s Office in 2019 and was familiar with the work.
Asanuma missed the Palau’s Bar Exam which was scheduled for July 2020 but cancelled due to COVID-19. The Bar Exam was rescheduled to July 2021.
Having missed the Bar Exam and therefore not licensed to practice law, she is able to work under Rules of Admission of the Supreme Court which allows her to work under the supervision of Attorney General Ernestine, stated the letter. She will be handling misdemeanor cases under supervision while awaiting the scheduled Bar Exam next year.
Ms. Asanuma will be the 3rd Palauan lawyer working in the Attorney General’s Office.
AG to hire Asanuma as new AAG
