Latest update November 25th, 2024 1:00 AM
Latest News
- ExxonMobil commences design for 7th project as Gov’t remains ‘iffy’ over approval
- Gov’t extends deadline for proposals on second phase of Gas-to-Energy project
- Hezbollah rockets land near Tel Aviv after big Israeli strike on Beirut
- 121 drivers nabbed speeding, 248 with unauthorised tinted glass
- Cop stabbed by Venezuelan national
Legal profession is diverse
– law students told at symposium
“Take out of your mind that the only way you can be a lawyer is to go to court everyday; it
A section of the gathering at the symposium
will stress you out and kill you!” exclaimed Sheldon McDonald in his thick Jamaican accent. McDonald, who currently holds the position of Head of the Department of Law at the University of Guyana (UG), was at the time addressing the gathering at a Moot Court Guyana symposium held at the University’s Education Lecture Theatre on Tuesday.
His comments were prompted by a question from a first-year law student who sought to query the way forward for those students who do not qualify for automatic placement through an existing agreement that falls under the purview of the Council for Legal Education (CLE).
“I did a Master’s in International Law and I regard myself with Justice (Duke) Pollard (of the CCJ) in the room as being a premier Caribbean international lawyer,” said a passionate McDonald, as he highlighted the possibility of persons looking into various sectors such as Natural Resources and the Environment to utilise legal expertise.
The current batch of first-year students undertaking the law programme at the local University amounts to about 80, representing perhaps the largest that the tertiary institution has seen. The local law degree or Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme is one that is warranted to qualify a student to pursue further legal studies or the Master of Laws (LLM) as preparation to practice law.
According to McDonald, while an agreement with the CLE allows for the automatic placement of 25 nationals at the Hugh Wooding Law School and 10 non-nationals to pursue further studies at law schools within their zones, the fate of the remainder of the students “is in your own hands.”
The automatic placement has been gaining much attention recently, a development that follows on the heels of a decision that was made by the CLE to halt the automatic place agreement. This decision has however been recently reversed.
As a result, the automatic placement, McDonald said, is expected to be in place for a period of five years, although there are provisions for review.
“What happens 2015…what happens 2016…a collaborative agreement will be in place so that the crisis doesn’t occur, while at the same time, a comprehensive review will be taking place. So if it takes 15 years, we will have three five-year agreements,” said McDonald as he sought to appease concerns regarding future placement.
Speaking at the forum too was local attorney Teni Housty, who said that it is imperative that students be accountable for themselves, even taking into consideration various aspects of law such as those that relate to information technology and the internet.
“If you go into it (law) and you say I can’t make it, then what? It has to be your answer first; look for the system to support you afterwards, but take responsibility for yourself, that is my point,” said Housty.
His argument was however challenged by Althea Prince, a Guyana-born lawyer living overseas, who insisted that “leadership is top-down…law students should not come out of law school having spent that kind of money and figure out your way on your own; there should be mentorship. You should have a clear sense of the place you have in the society,” Prince asserted.
But according to Housty, “when you get out there into practice… and yes, mentorship and so on will happen although the heroes are slowly fading … you still have to take responsibility for yourself, and that is the most important thing,” Housty emphasised.
In his deliberation, he pointed out that “if clients are to put their confidence in you and you can’t take responsibility for yourself, you are doing them a disservice…so start by taking responsibility for yourself”.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The business class also funds undemocratic parties
…Peeping Tom Kaieteur News- There’s a peculiar phenomenon in Guyana, a sort of cyclical ritual, where members of... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
