Meet the Lecturer : Dr . Sharon Le Gall
Can you briefly describe your academic path from law school to your current position here today ?
I attained my Ph . D . degree from the University of Cambridge in 2009 . My doctoral thesis explores issues of intellectual property , traditional knowledge and cultural property in the context of protecting collective knowledge associated with cultural signifiers in the Caribbean and the Americas , with specific emphasis on the steel pan of Trinidad and Tobago . I attained my Master of Laws Degree in Intellectual Property Law at the Osgoode Hall Law School , York University , Canada , in 1994 , and my Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the West Indies in 1987 . I was formerly Course Director and Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law and the Law relating to Equitable Remedies at the Faculty of Law , University of the West Indies , Cave Hill , Barbados . I am also engaged by WIPO as a Consultant and member of a
Meet the Lecturer : Dr . Sharon Le Gall
with Clay Hackett & Stephanie Rajkumar
CARICOM Working Group to develop a legal framework of protection for Traditional Knowledge , Traditional Cultural Expressions and Genetic Resources . I now lecture in Real Property I and Equitable Remedies at St . Augustine .
What was your biggest challenge as a student and how did you overcome it ?
I did not totally enjoy law until the Masters level due to the standard courses offered during my undergraduate degree . But I overcame that boredom by understanding the importance of doing the course .
How has your international experience impacted on you and your career ?
It offers the opportunity to broaden horizons . There are experiences such as meeting people and making new relationships , and learning in a different environment than that of the institution you were formerly based at . Also , we have significant contributions to make as well , especially in the legal sphere . Therefore , I would encourage any student with such an opportunity to take it .
How has your experience as a lecturer been in this transitional period ?
I have had a mixed experience . On one hand I very much enjoy interacting with students . On the other hand , there is the huge challenge of resources . Also challenging for me was undertaking the task of tutoring all students and also responding to submissions in a timely fashion .
Do you see any potential drawbacks with a full undergraduate programme in St . Augustine ?
First of all , those studying just in Trinidad may only have the Trinidadian legal perspective . The downside may be the lack of a multijurisdictional perspective , as the main focus would be Trinbagonian legislation . Another downside to this is missing the regional outlook , for example in terms of mixing with regional students .
How do you think the St . Augustine Law Society can aid in fostering that sense of regionalism that Attorneys who studied in Barbados can boast of ?
This can easily be done by reaching out to counterparts in Jamaica and Barbados . The former is relevant as they have recently undergone a similar expansion . Also arranging visits should be an annual undertaking .
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