Chief Justice, Attorney General guide new Attorneys on right path

Reminding that they are responsible for ensuring the rule of law is upheld, and that they must serve with excellence, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC, has welcomed to the local Bar three young women who recently graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS).
The applications of Rea Harris, 23, Mohanie Sudama, 24, and Shania Persaud for admission to the Guyana Bar were presented by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, on Wednesday at the High Court in Georgetown.
Shortly after their call to the Bar, Justice George congratulated them and lent some advice. She expressed that she was extremely pleased to preside over the Bar admission of Harris and Persaud, who are former students of her alma mater, The Bishops’ High School.
The Chief Justice told the trio that they now belong to a very noble profession, and if they uphold the pledge they took, they would have a long and prosperous career.
She urged them to maintain the principles of honesty and integrity, and to ensure that they do pro bono work. On this note, she told them that they must be able to tell their clients when they do not have a case.

With a huge smile on her face, she reminded the young ladies that they now have the privilege of being called “counsel”, but advised them that this privilege comes with numerous responsibilities. “You have to be respectful to your colleagues, to the court, and always be on time,” she advised.
Harris was named valedictorian of the HWLS graduating class of 2023.
Apart from being named the law school’s best graduating student, she also copped the Mediation Board of Trinidad and Tobago Prize for Excellence in Mediation Studies, the Book Specialists Prize for Best Overall Performance – Academic and Extracurricular Activities – and the Book Specialists Prize for Second Outstanding Year II Student.
Harris completed her Bachelor of Laws at the University of Guyana (UG), attaining a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.8 on a 4.0 GPA Scale, and was named the Law Department’s best graduating student in 2021. For this stellar accomplishment, she was presented with the Pro Chancellor’s Award by Education Minister Priya Manickchand, among other special prizes.
The Chief Justice has urged Harris to maintain this trajectory of success.

Impact jurisprudence

She said to her, “You have been a high-achiever throughout your student life. It is evident that you are committed to the very hard work that success entails. With your track record, you will no doubt impact the jurisprudence of Guyana and the region.”
Nandlall has said the lawyers are entering the legal field at a pivotal and exciting time, as Guyana’s legal and legislative environment is undergoing profound changes. While the legal profession protects the citizenry from all kinds of excesses, Nandlall stressed, those who need it most cannot afford it. As such, he told the trio, “Not every case must require payment.”
He said that without laws society would be useless, and as a result, attorneys play a special role in society. “It is the lawyer that has to conceive the laws and regulate frameworks that will make all advancements possible. The lawyer has to ensure that the God-given right of freedom and liberty is enjoyed by all of God’s creations,” the Attorney General emphasised.
The newly-admitted lawyers all showed appreciation to their parents, relatives, and friends for their unwavering support. In her address to the court, Harris vowed to conduct herself with honesty and integrity, and to discharge her duties to the best of her ability.
Sudama promised to assist and advocate for those who cannot afford access to legal services; while Persaud has promised to make an “indelible impression” and not to become complacent.
She believes that anything can be achieved with the right mindset and work ethic.
While Persaud and Sudama will begin their careers at the Attorney General’s Chambers, Harris heads into private practise at the law firm of Gunraj & Co.
All of them did their law school in-service training at the Attorney General’s Chambers. Like Harris, Sudama and Persaud also read for their undergraduate law degree at UG.
Harris, Persaud, and Sudama had been enrolled in the law school’s two-year Legal Education Certificate (LEC) programme — the final academic qualification to practise as an Attorney-at-Law in the Anglophone Caribbean.
Over the next few weeks, High Court Judges will preside over Bar calls for several Guyanese who graduated from the Trinidad-based institution on Saturday last.