New lawyer supports Govt’s “passionate efforts” to establish local law school

Guyana’s Deputy Chief of Mission to the United States of America (USA), Zulfikar Ally, who was recently admitted to practice law in Guyana, has thrown his support behind Attorney General Anil Nandlall’s “passionate efforts” to establish a law school here.

Ally, the former President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Guyana, recently graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad with a Legal Education Certificate (LEC) – a prerequisite to practice as a lawyer in the Commonwealth Caribbean.
His petition for admission was presented by Attorney-at-Law Devindra Kissoon before High Court Judge Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, whom he thanked for her invaluable advice and sharing of materials which undoubtedly played a great role in his legal studies.
“I wish to thank Attorney-at-Law Devindra Kissoon, my petitioner who has inspired in me the confidence to pursue this field to the end, and whose counsel and guidance not only in the field of law but in general is greatly appreciated and respected,” he said.
Like many new attorneys, he reflected on the sacrifices, dedication, patience, and perseverance that were required to have reached the finish line.
As an officer of the court, Ally said he is aware of a heavy responsibility to uphold and support the rule of law, adding, “I commit to ensuring that our freedom as citizens of a democratic community is properly protected, regardless of the legal field I choose.”
“I vow to uphold the principles and other tenets of this profession, including but not limited to adherence to the Legal Practitioners Code of Ethics, and serve dutifully, fairly, and justly as is expected of any Attorney,” said the newly admitted counsel.

Rapid transformation
According to him, he is cognisant of the fact that the jurisprudence in Guyana is undergrowing a rapid transformation that will require legal skills of the magnitude that we are not accustomed to but to which the Bar is more than capable of meeting.
“I know the Attorney General and his team are up to that challenge, and I support his passionate efforts of ensuring that Guyana has its own law school since I have seen many colleagues and friends who are brilliant prospective lawyers not qualifying for an already highly competitive top 25 space to attain a Legal Education Certificate.”
Each year, the top 25 students from the University of Guyana’s Department of Law gain automatic acceptance to the HWLS to read for their LEC. The remainder would have to sit the law school’s entrance examinations to gain admission.

Privileged
Throughout his life, Ally reflected on being privileged, on being able to meet but most importantly learn from many people. To this end, he acknowledged Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and Tarachand Balgobin from the Ministry of Finance—his first place of employment, former President Donald Ramotar, and Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop.
These persons, according to him, have supported, encouraged, and given him opportunities to grow. Ally extended gratitude to his father, who he described as a firm believer in education; his late mother who was an educator and his partner for their unwavering support and encouragement throughout his journey to the Bar.
To his friends in the private sector, Ally said, “I thank you for your friendship and guidance, for also showing me a different perspective on issues of national importance.”
While he is not sure about which field of law he intends to specialise in, Ally shared that what he does know is that he entered into the legal profession to contribute towards supporting the court in ensuring that social justice is dispensed, that the basic principles of fairness, equality, and human rights are maintained, that the poor and those that who are disadvantaged are afforded the opportunity of a hearing, and more importantly that democratic principles that we have embraced as a country continue to be observed. (G1)