Expectant first-generation lawyer joins DPP as State Counsel

Crystal Farinha-Baboolall is preparing to enter motherhood while also embarking on a new chapter in her career, having recently been admitted to the Bar.
A first-generation lawyer and former legal assistant at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Farinha-Baboolall is set to begin her career as a State Counsel at the DPP, an achievement she hopes will serve as an example to her child of what can be accomplished through education, determination and hard work.

As she awaits the birth of her first child, Farinha-Baboolall is also looking ahead to a career in law that began with a decision to pursue a profession that was not previously represented in her family.
Farinha-Baboolall, the eldest of four girls, told this publication in an interview that her journey towards the Bar began at Marian Academy in 2012, when a career-day presentation by retired Justice Sandra Kurtzious, introduced her to the possibilities and fulfilment of pursuing a career in law. Fourteen years later, Justice Kurtzious would once again become part of that journey by presenting her petition for admission to the Bar.
After graduating from Marian Academy, she continued her academic journey at The Bishops’ High School, drawn to its law programme and determined to nurture the interest that had been sparked years earlier. Having secured a place at the school through the National Grade Six Assessment, her eventual pursuit of law there added another layer of meaning to what would become a remarkable full-circle moment years later.
Looking back, that early encounter with the legal profession proved to be more than a passing moment as it was the beginning of a dream that would continue to grow.
Behind her achievement, she said, is a family whose humble beginnings shaped the values that would guide her journey. Farinha-Baboolall said her parents recognised her love for reading from an early age and made a conscious effort to nurture it by providing her with books and encouraging her curiosity.
Farinha-Baboolall’s mother also walked to work while pregnant, making sacrifices to secure a better future for her children even before they were born. In many ways, the apple has not fallen far from the tree, as Farinha-Baboolall now carries that same spirit of determination and sacrifice, preparing to welcome her own child while laying the foundation for a future shaped by opportunity, education and hard work.
Her parents, she said, played an instrumental role in nurturing that passion, ensuring she had access to books from a young age.
“My mom, my dad, my sisters, our extended family. Since I was younger, I was maybe what you would call a bookworm, but I was always interested in reading, always, always interested in reading,” she told this publication, her voice brightening as she recounted her early memories.
“And I believe my parents had seen that from a young age, so they really nurtured my love for reading. They would buy me a lot of books, the entire Nancy Drew collections. I had those. I had all the Hardy Boys. I was also very into… My mom would tell me that from a young child, she would recite prayers because we’re also very religious.”
She added: “She would recite prayers to me before I could even read. And I was able to say the prayers back completely, so they saw that I had this knack for reading, this knack for a good memory. And, of course, these are all gifts that I was blessed with. And they nurtured that.”
Farinha-Baboolall said she intends to pursue a career in criminal law, having accepted a position as State Counsel at the DPP.
She explained that while completing her Master of Laws (LLM), she worked as the DPP’s legal assistant, an experience that helped her develop a strong interest in criminal law, particularly prosecution.
As a prosecutor, she will represent the State in cases involving persons accused of criminal offences. She said the field also provides an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable people, particularly children, who are often victims of criminal offences.

Throughout her academic journey, she also received encouragement from teachers who recognised her strengths and helped her appreciate the talents she could bring to the profession.
“And throughout school, as I progressed, my teachers told me that I had a good voice as well. I spoke very fluently. I spoke well, so I would say I really followed my talents. And I entered the field of law. That also doesn’t take away from the fact that it was very challenging for me because I am a first-generation attorney. And when you try to navigate this path for yourself at first, it can be very difficult.”
Next generation of lawyers
Looking ahead, Farinha-Baboolall hopes to encourage young women in Guyana to pursue their ambitions without being deterred by the challenges associated with the legal profession or being drawn solely to its perceived glamour.
“For any young woman, I would let them know that you have to believe in yourself. There’s a quote that always, for some reason, would stand out to me. And it’s a very short quote. It says that the person who believes they can and can’t are both usually correct. So the journey is not an easy one; it’s really not easy. And you can’t do this for the glamour or anything other than the fact that this is going to boil down to service to another person and to your community or your State.”
She emphasised that aspiring lawyers must be prepared to work hard, remain disciplined and recognise that there are no shortcuts to success. Having a supportive network, even if it consists of only one or two people, can also make a significant difference, she said.
Farinha-Baboolall also wants women to understand that pursuing professional goals does not have to come at the expense of personal aspirations.
“And, as of right now, I am expecting my first child. So I always like to encourage women that once you put your mind to it, there is no limit to what you can really do.”

Parents sacrifice
Her determination, she said, was shaped in large part by the sacrifices her parents made to give her and her siblings opportunities they did not have growing up.
“My parents made a lot of sacrifices to give their children a life that they didn’t have. And in the sense of education, especially, they would always, always, always drill into us that education is the way out of poverty and the only way that you can make a life for yourself.
“My dad would talk about riding his bicycle to work. My mom would talk about walking to work. Both of them started working when they were 16 years old, both of them. And they dedicated themselves, and they have very exemplary drive.”
Their experiences reinforced the importance of education, perseverance and self-discipline, values that she carried with her throughout her academic and professional journey.
As she prepares to begin her career as State Counsel, Farinha-Baboolall has ambitions that extend beyond her immediate professional responsibilities. She hopes to build a distinguished career and, one day, contribute to the development of Guyana’s jurisprudence.