President Ali Announces Establishment of Guyana’s First Law School
Jayda Jeune|HGP Nightly News.
President Irfaan Ali made a groundbreaking announcement on Sunday during the swearing-in ceremony at State House, declaring the establishment of Guyana’s first law school. He hailed the project as a transformative step in advancing the country’s education sector.
“Our schools will be transformed into modern centers of learning, offering 21st century education, digital tools, and enhanced teaching to prepare our children for the future,” the president stated.
For decades, law graduates have been forced to travel abroad—primarily to Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, or the Bahamas—to obtain their Legal Education Certificate, a regional requirement to practice law. This route often came with heavy financial and emotional burdens.
Now, with recent approval from the Council for Legal Education, construction of Guyana’s own law school is set to commence immediately. The institution is expected to significantly reduce expenses for students and keep them closer to home.
Beyond personal savings, experts believe the law school will expand the country’s legal capacity, producing more attorneys for private practice, public service, and the judiciary. It is also expected to improve access to justice in remote regions where attorney shortages remain a challenge.
“This initiative will enable hundreds of persons to qualify as attorneys-at-law right here in Guyana with full rights to practice across CARICOM,” President Ali emphasized.
The law school is part of the government’s broader education agenda, which also includes:
- Expanding medical and engineering training,
- Creating 200 new educational spaces across Regions 2, 3, 6, and 9,
- Enhancing vocational and online learning opportunities.
This development is seen as one of the most ambitious education ventures in the nation’s history and marks a major milestone for aspiring lawyers who have long faced barriers to entering the profession.
