Young Professionals Series: Attorney -at -law Mrs. Caressa Linella Facey Henry

Jan 15, 2023 News

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The Creators’ Coven

By: Zena Henry

“Self-doubt destroys dreams and aspirations”

Kaieteur News – The odds were not exactly tilted in the favour of Attorney-at-Law Caressa Linella Facey Henry, when she finally decided to follow her dream of pursuing a career in the legal profession. At first, she denied her desire. She told the Coven that finances; having to be away from her husband and children; as well as a number of missed opportunities; fueled the doubt that she could ever pursue her goal of becoming a lawyer. Given the circumstances, the task at hand seemed mammoth, and the path to success seemed especially rough, the 34-year-old mother of three indicated. Even with a committed husband, she said a lot of effort would have had to be made on her part to balance all her responsibilities. She noted however, that a leap of faith would propel her on a rich fulfilling journey.

Mrs. Henry said that from a young age, she took up an interest in the legal profession, but it wasn’t until she started working at the Supreme Court of Judicature in 2007, that her interest was further ignited. There, Henry said her duties included transcribing Deposition Files and Appeal Files and handling exhibits, preparation of Criminal Assizes Lists, and Jurors Lists, compiling data, maintain records and reports, correspondence, and other material.

Henry said she eventually moved on to the Ministry of Health and functioned in senior positions, including as a confidential secretary to the former Director, Regional Health Services and the former Minister of Health. But by 2015, the lawyer said that her strong desire to join the legal profession came knocking once more and she started her Bachelors of Laws at the University of Guyana, after she had completed her Diploma in Public Management. The support system that presented itself was enormous, Henry emphasized, and it all came after taking that important leap. By 2019, she said she completed her Bachelors and had spent a 12-week stint as a legal Intern with Guyana Legal Aid Clinic in Georgetown in 2020. By 2021, the promising attorney had completed her Legal Education Certificate from Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad. She was listed on the Principal’s Honour Roll, having attained excellence with 8-A’s and awarded the Government of Guyana Prize for the best Graduating Guyanese Law Student at the High Wooding Law School.

Henry told the Coven that it was faith in self that allowed her to make the brave move toward her desire. “Always believe in yourself and your ability,” she posited. “Self-doubt would destroy your dreams and aspirations. All we have to do is to set our academic goals and go for it because it’s never too late.” The temptation to give up, she said, is a common one, and nobody is exempt. “Failure isn’t something many of us can handle gracefully. But failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue and the perseverance to win that counts. In the words of Henry Ford, “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently,” the attorney shared.

She went on to say that, “The important thing about man is not where he goes when he is compelled to go, but where he goes when he is free to go where he will.”

She said that each person’s destination in life is of their own determination, and their ability to pursue their dreams regardless of challenges, ultimately tells on their success. The freedom to dream and to pursue sometimes presents itself in uncomfortable fashions, Henry said. Her journey to where she is today was anything but smooth, she said. “Like many of those that journeyed before me, my experience is relatable. But in addition to the difficulties faced by law students, my freedom to go where I desired came in the form of closed doors, denied opportunities, financial challenges, troubling uncertainties, disappointment and doubt.”

Henry said she often worried about the various issues that seemed to make her dreams impossible to attain. She even remembered Ms. Sita Ramlal, former Registrar of the Supreme Court and Retired Solicitor General, who she said was a pillar of strength and support. “Ms. Ramlal always encouraged me to pursue law, but I often said to her that it is too expensive and more so, I didn’t know how my family would cope with me being away.  In reply, she would tell me that I have to have faith, make a start and things will fall into place, and I just needed to trust God. I am happy I heeded her advice and took that leap of faith,” Henry stated.

She said that her biggest challenge was leaving her husband and children behind and venturing to another country to study. “This was hard for me as my eldest child was preparing to write the NGSA. But thanks to the support of my husband, mother and other family members who ensured they were taken care of in my absence. My husband, Keslyn Henry, is a man who understands my passion for this profession and readily became Mr. Mom to our three young children, ages 2, 7 and 11, while I pursued my goal.” Apart from her family, Henry said friends and work colleagues, even from past jobs, offered their assistance or support as she forged ahead.

She said former colleagues from the Supreme Court, particularly Ms. Edana Barker-Smith and Marshal Patrick Higgins, were persons she could have called upon at any time for assistance/guidance. Her former work colleagues from the Ministry of Legal Affairs/Attorney General Chambers, Attorneys-at-law Leslyn Noble and Joann Edghill; Ms. Simone Allen, Benita Bishop, Lisette Wills, Leah Isaacs and Michele Jones all assisted in her journey, as well as high school friends, Attorney-at-Law Christopher Thompson, Delon Earle, Keane Lynch, Rochelle October, Aniysa Lambert, Athalyah Yisreal and Rawle Enmore. These folks, she said, have proven to be some of the most selfless humans she knows.

“I stepped over these obstacles only by the grace of God and the wonderful people who saw potential in me. I was compelled to remind myself that a seed is planted in me with a God-given ability to overcome and succeed. Therefore, I could not have given up on my plan. Giving up was letting my seed rot in the ground of despair and sabotage, and my God-given gift wasted.”

Henry said that the task was not easy as she had to balance family life, academic life and a full-time job. “That balance meant I had to schedule everything including family time. It was challenging.” Additionally, the attorney said she had to put in much more work as many of the students she studied with were in their early 20s and did not have to worry about some of the responsibilities she had. Succeeding at what she set out to do was nonetheless worth the sacrifices, Henry submitted. She said it was surreal when she got the news that she had made the honour roll.  “I was very much surprised. I knew I had worked hard but I didn’t expect those accolades. But it is an honour and I am truly humbled by the reward of my hard work, especially being one of the few mature students in the class.”

Henry is currently a State Counsel with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Her duties are to represent the state of Guyana in criminal proceedings before the courts and provide legal advice. For now, Henry says her area of law remains general as she seeks a rounded wealth of experience. “I do intend to specialise in a particular area and work to continuously increase my knowledge in that area. I will be working with the State for some time. Academically, I would like to pursue my Masters.”

Henry is not too eager to hop back on to the academic train just yet, opting to spend some valuable time with her family, before venturing into studies again. She said she will use this time to prepare for the road still ahead.

 

 

 

 

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• Attorney, Caressa Henry with husband, Keslyn Henry, Keslyn Henry and ki, Mrs. Caressa Linella Facey Henry, Young Professionals

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