Can you briefly describe |
your academic path from |
law |
school |
to |
your |
current |
position |
here |
today? |
|
|
Prior to being at the UWI I was previously in the University of Guyana in the Faculty of Law there. After my LLB, I was offered the opportunity to work as an assistant lecturer and I found my passion through that experience. Intermittently I got some practice in New York where I was admitted to the bar; I realized after a year or so I would much rather return to academia. In the past I also worked in CARICOM as a legal consultant in the trade department with the Office of the General Council, I found that international law was the area that really interested me.
What was your biggest challenge as a student and how did you overcome it?
Meet the Lecturer: Mrs. Alicia Elias Roberts
with Samantha Ramsaran and Stephanie Rajkumar
I faced several challenges as a student but I was fortunate to have parents who supported my desire to study. I had financial challenges as a student with getting all the textbooks, challenges of reading all the cases and preparing competently for exams; I had different types of challenges on understanding the work. I overcame those challenges through support of family and friends and through developing good habits. Being a full time student was my job. When you start law it can seem like a different language but tirelessly spending hours in the library, practicing and practicing, it started to get easier. Through that kind of hard work I overcame my challenges.
How does lecturing at the UWI St Augustine compare to lecturing at the University of Guyana?
There is a small law department in Guyana compared to the one here. I think the culture with students is the same however since you have different levels of students, some very committed, some you have to push harder than others in order to get their interest.
How has your international experience impacted on you and your career?
I find that studies abroad enriched me not just with my legal education but culturally. We’ ve received a lot of the laws from England, and when you study it and you’ re divorced from the realities of England and you’ ve never seen it, sometimes it’ s hard to apply it. So going to those societies was an education you can’ t put into words. I’ ve had different experiences in styles over legal education and then the substantive material itself. It was really a good experience.
How has your experience as a lecturer been in this transitional period?
The transition affected me in terms of getting the office here in this new building. My perception of the students is they’ re not feeling too comfortable in the new structure since they don’ t have a room of their own.
22