Deepesh Singh has become the first Fijian to complete the European Master of Law and Economics (EMLE) programme, graduating with distinction and ranking fourth overall in his cohort — a milestone he says he hopes will help him bring rigorous, outcomes-focused legal thinking back to Fiji.
Singh’s path to Europe began in 2014 when he left Nadi for Suva to study law and commerce at the University of the South Pacific. His academic promise was recognised early: he received the Gold Medal for Most Outstanding Law Graduate before spending more than seven years practising corporate law, where he developed a practical understanding of legal systems and their application in business settings. Those years in practice, he says, expanded his ambitions beyond the courtroom and led him to pursue specialised postgraduate study overseas.
The EMLE — an interdisciplinary programme that combines legal study with economic analysis — presented immediate challenges. “The start of the programme was, without a doubt, the most difficult period,” Singh said, recalling a move “halfway across the world into a completely unfamiliar environment where I didn’t speak the language and where I was surrounded by individuals with very strong academic backgrounds.” He admits there were moments when he felt out of place: “There were times when I genuinely felt like I did not belong there. I was always trying to ‘catch up’ with my peers while learning how to navigate an entirely new environment.” Even routine tasks such as shopping became tests of adaptation — “a simple supermarket visit turned into something closer to a treasure hunt,” he said.
That discomfort, however, crystallised his purpose. Singh says he kept focused by reminding himself his work was for his family and, in a broader sense, for his country. He specialised in markets, corporations and regulators — an area he describes as concerned not with how laws read on paper but with what they actually achieve in practice. “Usually, we assume that once laws are written and passed, the job is done,” he said. “But the important bit is what happens after that? Does the law actually have the desired effect? What is the actual effect on consumers, businesses and the broader economy?”
Singh frames the law-and-economics approach as a tool for accountability: economic principles, he says, push policymakers to move beyond legislative intent and measure real-world outcomes, then adjust accordingly. That mindset informed how he studied — deliberately and with an emphasis on applying theoretical principles to real cases in Fiji and the Pacific region. His academic success in a competitive European cohort underscores his ability to bridge rigorous theory with practical concerns.
Now back in the region, Singh has signalled a clear intention to contribute to nation building by applying his training to strengthen legal and economic systems for social benefit. Success, he says, is no longer personal accolade but meaningful contribution: “It’s about contributing in a meaningful way… ensuring that laws achieve their intended outcomes and genuinely benefit people in Fiji.” He also credits his family’s “constant and relentless” support for enabling his journey, and offers encouragement to young lawyers considering study abroad: “There will be uncertainty and challenges but that is part of the process… The most important thing is that you believe that you belong in those spaces.”
Singh’s achievement marks a notable development for Fiji’s legal community, introducing specialised expertise in measuring and improving the real-world effects of law — an area policymakers and regulators may increasingly need as the country navigates complex economic and regulatory challenges.