Home News Young lawyer enlightened on transformational changes in Guyana’s legal system Young lawyer...
…admitted to Guyana’s Bar
There has been a new addition to the Guyana Bar in the person of 25-year-old Saskea Sara Lynch, a former student of The Bishops’ High School.
Her petition to practice law in and before the courts of Guyana was presented before Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, last week at the Demerara High Court.
At a very young age, Lynch said she knew she wanted to venture into legal studies and after successfully completing the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), she moved to the Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to further her studies.
There, she completed her secondary education at the ASJA Girls’ College Charlieville, graduating as valedictorian at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).
Due to her exemplary performance, she gained admission to read for a Bachelor of Laws at the University of the West Indies (UWI) St Augustine Campus which she completed with honours in 2015.
This young woman from humble upbringings then enrolled in the two-year Legal Education Certificate (LEC) programme—a prerequisite to practice as an Attorney-at-Law in the Commonwealth Caribbean—at the Sir Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad.
After completing her LEC, Lynch, who was admitted to the Trinidad and Tobago Bar, remained in that Caribbean Community (Caricom) state, practicing as an Attorney-at-Law.
According to Nandlall, the young lawyer was “enticed” by the transformational changes taking place in her homeland “and rightfully chose to return to Guyana to contribute to the development of the country through being a member of the legal profession”.
“Lynch comes to the profession at a very crucial and exciting time. The transformation taking place in our country in every sector is obvious and the legal sector has not been forgotten,” said the Attorney General, as he outlined the various Bills waiting to be tabled in Parliament.
“We have a Hire Purchase Bill; we have a modern Bail Bill. In the pipeline we have a modern Caribbean model Arbitration Bill to take to the National Assembly and we have very important changes and development taking place in the legal sector outside of legislation.”
He also informed her of the steps being taken to update the Guyana Law Reports and to revise the Laws of Guyana — which, he pointed out, is a costly but very important exercise.
Nandlall reminded Lynch that she has entered into a noble and honourable profession and therefore she will not only be expected to meet to rigours of the profession but will have to adapt to the changes which are taking place in the legal sector.
In lending a word of advice to Lynch, he shared, “There is no shortcut to success in the legal profession. You have to work hard, you have to read the law, you have to research the law, you have to be able to write clearly, you have to be able to speak clearly, to articulate your position…and at the same time, do so with rectitude and decorum, recognising that your arguments may not always prevail but there is a system to correct the wrongs…”
For her part, the Chief Justice expressed that she is always “very pleased” to preside over the admission of a “Bishopian”, since she, too, is a former student of The Bishops’ High School.
Noting that the expectations at the T&T Bar are extremely high, Justice George urged Lynch to use her two years of practise in that country to replicate her commitment to excellence here.
Like the Attorney General, the Chief Justice enlightened her about the transformational changes taking place in the legal system.
Notably, she told her about the establishment of a Council of Legal Education (CLE) law school in Guyana which will attract students from across the Region. And according to her, “that cross-fertilisation of experiences is really, really, exciting and enriching for our Region.”
Justice George also seized the opportunity to explain to Lynch that the profession into which she has entered is very demanding, adding that it is a 365 days per year job and that hard work and courtesy to the court will pay off.
Notwithstanding the demands, she urged her to be committed to excellence and to work every day to lay the foundation for her future.
In a courtroom packed with family, friends, and colleagues, Lynch said that it is a privilege to be admitted to practice law in Guyana, while thanking the Chief Justice and the Attorney General for their words of wisdom.
She expressed gratitude to her loved ones for their support throughout her journey which was especially challenging because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am happy to be here to be able to positively contribute and be part of this change and to contribute with my fellow colleagues as we are the next generation who will propel everything that has been set for us into the future…,” the lawyer said. (G1)
