St. Augustine Legal Affairs (STALA) Issue 1 | Page 40

Can you briefly share with us your academic path from law school up to your current status here today?

I went to Fatima College, and while I was there I wasn’ t interested in law at all. I did law because I was always interested in international relations. I liked languages in school and I wanted to be an interpreter at the UN, and people said that I should give myself a backup plan. So I was encouraged to do law and I decided I didn’ t only want to do the degree but I also wanted some practical experience. I’ ve always liked teaching. I got into some teaching at a junior secondary school and I was a librarian assistant at QRC. I also had the opportunity to tutor when I was in law school and I’ ve been doing it on and off since 1986.

with Stephan Maharaj and Nura Ali

How has your international experience impacted on you and your career?

My chambers are called Caribbean Commercial Law Chambers. We have a Grenadian and we have a Vincentian joining us. I’ ve done matters in Antigua and Barbados. My practice is a Caribbean practice because of my experience. Caribbean experience was important in terms of my career and as a person. Going away from home you were forced to grow up. Managing your own affairs is something you only really do when you are on your own.

Do you think the St. Augustine Attorneys of 2015 will be any different than those who went to Cave Hill?

I don’ t think it’ s going to be different. The experience in Cave Hill is a growing experience but I don’ t think that where you study affects your practice; once the quality is of a sufficient standard I think you’ ll be fine. The bulk of your growing as a lawyer is in practice. The university can only give you a smattering of what you will encounter in practice. What you have to focus on is making wise choices in terms of where you practise.

The most immediate thing is facilities. The only drawback is that you are likely to have temporary facilities for a while until either Debe materializes or there is a change of heart and they decide to put in proper facilities in St. Augustine.

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?

You establish your links with people in the other territories. The faculty has been talking about having video conferencing to audit classes or even having an exchange of students between the 3 law faculties. The Law Society should actively encourage this.

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