THE GOOD LIFE AND BECOMING A LAWYER

Oct 23, 2015 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

The legal profession was given a tremendous boost when it was recently announced that a junior lawyer was earning more than a Minister of the government. Soon after this announcement, it is understood that a great many young people began to eye the legal profession.
No wonder so many of them are upset that the establishment of a full law school in Guyana is not high on the agenda of the government. This is denying them a shot at the good life, especially the good life working as a junior partner in a law firm.
Now that we have an idea of what some lawyers are earning in private practice, the debate should be reopened on the amount that is prescribed for the payment of professional tax certificates for lawyers. If someone as a junior counsel is earning more than a Minister used to earn, then surely there can be little objection to the payment of the fee proposed by the Guyana Revenue Authority for the professional tax certificate for lawyers.
The fact, however, is that not all junior lawyers are not earning above what Ministers earn. Many of them are “catching tail”. Many of them are not earning enough to pay their rentals.
So the legal profession is not as attractive as it is sometimes made out to be. Many junior lawyers, for example, cannot branch out on their own because they may not get clients. As such, a great many of them are seeking government jobs. They should first consider a career in the military, even if it is as a sentry. This will enhance their CV and allow them to nail down a big job eventually within the government.
Many others are trying out for attachments with major law firms which normally get the big cases that would allow them to pay their lawyers attractively.
Regardless of the difficulties, a great many young people are keen on becoming lawyers. Many of them are doing Law at the advanced level in school in the hope of gaining admission to the law degree programme of the University of Guyana which is far cheaper than having to enter either Hugh Wooding or Mona.
Unfortunately, there seems to be limited spaces to the University of Guyana’s Law Degree programme, with the result that even students who excel in Law at the advanced level are unable to gain acceptance into the programme. Many of those denied places are complaining and amongst the complaints are comparisons of the qualifications of those who got in with those who did not.
A few weeks ago, a young man was admitted to the Bar. In the report in the media on his admission it was stated that after passing his CSEC subjects he applied to the University Law Degree programme and gained admission, did his four years and then proceeded overseas to complete his training.
In this context, it will create some consternation amongst applicants that only a few years back someone could have gained admission into the University of Guyana’s Law Programme with CSEC subjects but today, even good passes at CAPE, would not allow for admission.
It is disappointing for a young person to have the dream of going to Law School, gain an ‘A’ grade in Law at the CAPE, have other decent passes at the same level and yet be unable to gain acceptance to UG’s Law Degree programme.
There is no evidence that the selection system is unfair. What I do know is that many young people are not able to pursue their dreams because of the limited number of places available for the Law Degree programme at the University of Guyana.
It is suggested therefore that the University clearly indicate the minimum qualifications needed to gain entry into Law School and at the same time try to increase the number of places available so that no one is left out.
Everyone deserves a shot at the good life and that includes all those hoping to one day become Junior counsel.

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THE GOOD LIFE AND BECOMING A LAWYER

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