Former QC head prefect admitted to local bar

Oct 29, 2014 News

---

Former Queen’s College (QC) Head Prefect and essay-winning writer,

Sonnel David-Longe was admitted to the local bar yesterday.
David-Longe, who has been blazing the academic trail for a number of years, and was one of the Guyanese students to make the Hugh Wooding Law School honour roll at the recent graduation, was admitted to the bar by Madame Justice Roxanne George. Also sitting in on the hearing was former Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Judge, Duke Pollard.
Her petition was presented by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes before a packed courtroom of family members, friends, Queen’s College teachers and past students as well as supporters.
David-Longe, a past pupil of the St Agnes Primary, wrote the Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (SSEE) in 2002 and was awarded a place at Queen’s College. She later gained 12 passes at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
The young attorney continued her Advanced Level (‘A’ Levels) at QC where she obtained passes in 10 Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subject areas and one pass from the British Examinations Board’s EDEXCEL exam.
The former head prefect was widely known during her schooling at QC as an academic and music, sports, debate and elocution enthusiast. She left QC in 2009 as the institution’s Most Outstanding Graduate.
David-Longe’s scholastic achievements were then boosted by a pass, with distinction, from the University of Guyana’s LLB programme in 2012. Her 3.7 Grade Point Average (GPA) awarded her the Pro Chancellor’s Medal for Best Graduating Law Student.
On October 5, the young attorney obtained her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) at the Hugh Wooding Law School. David-Longe graduated on the Principal’s Roll of Honour, and was the recipient of the Robert Mathieu Sellier Memorial Prize for Best Performance in Trial Advocacy and the Principal’s Award for Advocacy.
Hughes, in his submission, noted that the 24-year-old Wortmanville, Georgetown resident has returned to these shores to serve with integrity. He said the young petitioner possessed viable assets which will serve her well in the noble profession.
He said that integrity will serve to protect and shield her in the profession. Hughes said too that David-Longe has a propensity towards excellence and added that the values which the new attorney upholds will benefit her well.
Noting her outstanding academic track record and participation in extra-curricular activities, Hughes remarked that David-Longe is coming into the profession when there is a need for new thinking and approach.
Hughes expressed confidence that David-Longe is the perfect candidate and said that the petition was endorsed by Justice Pollard who had been exposed to her extraordinary intellect.
He remarked that he had complete confidence in the new attorney’s ability to excel.
In accepting her petition, Madame Justice George confessed that unbeknownst to the young petitioner that she had seen her at QC and congratulated her for her excellent performance. Noting her excellent academic achievements, the Judge remarked that much will be expected of the young attorney.
The Judge noted that sleep is not a word common among lawyers and commented that others often look at the “glitz and glamour” of the profession oftentimes without knowing the amount of work that is placed into it.
She charged David-Longe to be a lawyer’s lawyer by respecting her colleagues and her work. “You must command the respect of your colleagues,” Madame Justice George charged as she urged David-Longe “to stamp her authority early.”
“Show your colleagues that you mean business,” the Judge emphasised.
The young lawyer was advised to understand her clients’ cases and to be honest. The Judge encouraged the young attorney to “be courageous enough to be frank with your clients. Be frank with your clients, the court and your colleagues…always be professional.”
The Judge noted that David-Longe was a humble person and urged her to remain that way. “A person is placing their life in your hands and I’m urging you to remain humble. Do your part with humility and integrity.”
Madam Justice George wished her a successful future.
In response, David-Longe noted the poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s words “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.”
She said that her personal motto is to always strive for excellence in her endeavours, and to also incorporate balance in every aspect of her life. The 24-year-old thanked her parents Hazel and Steve David-Longe for their years of dedication and sacrifice.
She said that at a young age she was taught the values of education and to be aware of her ability, but to always remain humble.
David-Longe also noted that it was not an easy task, but she had made it through the support of her family, friends and God.
In 2011, she copped the award in an essay competition held by The Cheddi Jagan Research Centre. Her piece sought to analyse the relevance of “The West on Trial” to the 21st century.

---

---