Four University of Guyana (UG) LL.B graduands have been awarded government scholarships to pursue the Legal Education Certificate (LEC) at the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) for the 2019/2010 academic year.
Simran Gajraj (GPA 3.8), Thalia Thompson (GPA 3.5), Melissa Adolphus (GPA 3.4), all distinction students, and Nakesha Cosbert (GPA 3.3), were selected following an extremely competitive process.
Gajraj will be the Department of Law’s best graduating student.
Attempts to speak with the officials in charge of the scholarship programme to ascertain details about the selection process were unsuccessful.
However, on August 18th, 2019, the Department of Public Service of the Ministry of the Presidency announced that it was offering a limited number of scholarships to assist students who were looking to pursue the LEC at the HWLS for the 2019/2020 academic year.
Speaking to this newspaper on Friday about the scholarships and being selected as one of the awardees, Gajraj said “It is a great opportunity. I really applaud the initiative, and I hope it continues.”
During her three years at UG, Gajraj served as Class Representative for the graduating class of 2019, Public Relations Officer for Moot Court Guyana (2017/2018), a student body dedicated to developing students’ advocacy skills, and Events Coordinator of the University of Guyana Law Society (UGLS) (2018/2019), the representative body of law students at UG.
Cosbert, a mother of two who was forced to quit her job, and rely on her husband for support during her three years of study, is happy that her sacrifice has paid off. “Before I was aware that I was awarded the scholarship, I was in no position to book a flight, much less pay for tuition and accommodation. Had I not gotten this scholarship, I would not have been going to Hugh Wooding, so this is really a dream come through,” she said.
To persons who are pursuing a legal career, but lack the finances to go the distance, she said, “I encourage students hoping to pursue studies in law but are hopeless because of financial constraints, which often times is a barrier to attending [HWLS] to remain focus, study hard and ultimately do well.”
Meanwhile, Adolphus has been part of the winning team of the Department of Law’s Annual Aubrey Bishop Mooting Competition for three consecutive years. “I am extremely grateful for this opportunity because the ultimate disappointment would have been, being a holder of an LLB with distinction, and still not being able to complete part two of my legal journey at the HWLS all because I lacked the finances…,” she said.
Adolphus explained that “before my scholarship was approved, I felt as though my dream of becoming an attorney-at-law was quickly slipping away because seeking private sponsorship for that amount had proven to be very challenging. It was a very frustrating time for me, and especially my mother, since she’s a single parent who simply wants the best for her child but just cannot afford that fee.”
This newspaper was unable to make contact with Thompson.
Orientation at HWLS for the 2019/2020 academic year begins on Monday and classes commence the following week.
To be considered for the scholarships, LLB students had to be graduating this year, or must have graduated in the last five years; attained a minimum GPA of 3.3; and be in possession of a letter of acceptance or similar correspondence from the HWLS.
Sunday Stabroek understands that interviews for the scholarships took place two weeks ago and the successful candidates were contacted last week.
Government had also offered scholarships to Guyanese HWLS students entering their second year of studies. To be eligible for scholarships, this class of students had to achieve at least three (3) As after their first year. This newspaper has learned that no scholarships were awarded to anyone in this class of persons.
These scholarships come at a time when Guyanese pursuing legal careers are finding it increasingly difficult to afford the overall cost of pursuing the LEC.
Total fees for Year One Guyanese students currently stand at TT$101,292.38 (approximately G$3,038,771 at a rate of TT$1 – G$30), while Year Two tuition fees stand at TT$98,066.00 (approximately G$2,941,980 at a rate of TT$1 – G$30). Total tuition fees, therefore, stands at around G$6,000,000.
Additionally, accommodation can cost anywhere from around TT$1,700 – TT$2,400 (approximately G$51,000 or G$72,000 respectively at a rate of TT$1 – G$30) per month for shared accommodation, and around TT$2,400 to TT$3,400 (approximately G$72,000 to G$102,000 respectively at a rate of TT$1 – G$30) per month, or even higher, for a single bedroom apartment.
Students, thereafter, must also find funds forfood, and school-related expenses.
