As Guyana’s 1st law school moves ahead: Framework agreement on legal education nears completion – AG

Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall has confirmed that a feasibility study for the establishment of Guyana’s first law school has been approved, paving the way for construction on eight acres of land allocated by the University of Guyana (UG).
This is on the heels of President Irfaan Ali’s recent swearing-in ceremony, in which he announced that with the Council of Legal Education’s (CLE) recent approval, Guyana will move forward immediately with the establishment of its first law school, a development that will allow hundreds of students to qualify locally as attorneys-at-law, with full accreditation to practice across CARICOM countries.

“Indeed, based on the recent approval granted by the Council for Legal Education, we will commence work immediately on the establishment of Guyana’s very own law school. This will enable hundreds of persons to qualify as attorneys-at-law right here in Guyana, with full rights to practice in CARICOM countries,” the President stated in his inauguration speech on Sunday.
For nearly three decades, Guyana has sought to establish a law school within its borders. Students pursuing legal education have historically been forced to attend the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad, which admits only the top 25 Guyanese students each year. This has created significant challenges for aspiring lawyers who are unable to secure admission, often requiring them to travel abroad or delay their legal careers. Speaking with this newspaper, AG Anil Nandlall confirmed that the feasibility study for the law school has been completed and approved, clearing the way for the project to advance.
“The approval was granted at the Council’s last meeting, held Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Nassau, Bahamas. We were required to conduct a feasibility study, which was completed and submitted to a subcommittee established for this purpose. That subcommittee approved the study and recommended its consideration by the Council,” Nandlall explained. It is on that note that AG Nandlall revealed that architectural designs for the school are already in place, and eight acres of land have been allocated by UG. The next step will involve finalising a framework agreement for legal education in the country.
“We already have an architectural drawing and of course, the land has already been allocated and secured from the University of Guyana — eight acres of land. Now, we have to work out an agreement, a framework agreement, when it comes to legal education,” Nandlall stated. During the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition Administration, efforts were made to establish the Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence Haynes Law School. However, the CLE was not initially approached about the project and when permission was eventually sought, it was denied in late 2017. This setback has delayed the country’s ambition for decades, leaving many prospective law students dependent on overseas institutions.