Wheels up!

In just a few short days, four students of the UWI / COB LL.B Programme will again embark on the final leg of their journey to the Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Competition - the International Rounds that are scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C. March 30th - April 6th.

The Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition is an advocacy competition for law students. Teams of law students compete against one another through the presentation of oral and written pleadings to address timely issues of public international law in the context of a hypothetical legal dispute between nations. The Compromis is the springboard for the Jessup Competition. Written by leading scholars of international law, the Compromis is a compilation of agreed upon facts about the dispute that is submitted for adjudication to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. After the Compromis is released, students begin researching and preparing arguments for both sides of the dispute, drafting and editing written pleadings, called “memorials”, and practicing oral presentations. Each team prepares two written memorials and two 45-minute oral presentations, one for each party to the dispute (the “Applicant” and the “Respondent”). Teams argue alternately as Applicant and Respondent against competing teams before a panel of judges, simulating a proceeding before the International Court of Justice.

The 2012 team finished in the top 20% overall. The 2013 team, that includes Akeyra Saunders, David Whymns, Tamar Moss and Theominique Nottage, hopes to improve upon this performance.

Keep posted for updates on how the competition is going via uwilawsociety.blogspot.com! The UWI Law Society at COB wishes the team good luck!

Kendrea Demeritte, Public Relations Officer, 2012 - 2013

What's your favorite quote?

“If you wish success in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother and hope your guardian genius” (Joseph Addison)

Inspirational Person:

My daily inspirations stem from the desire to not only personally succeed but to also assist those around me reach their optimum potential.

Areas of Interest:

Major Goals 2012 - 2013:

It is my vision to see the Law Society become more active in both academic and social communities while strengthening existing relationships, creating new friendships and honoring the bonds that allow them to co-exist.

Hobbies: 

Five years from now...

Personal Qualities:

Some of my qualities that I offer to the position as Public Relations Officer include a high level of integrity, personal confidence, the ability to work well under pressure, strong written and verbal communication skills and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Favorite Law Experience to Date:

Orientation 2012: Welcome to the Class of 2015!

Almost too quickly summer has past, and the school year starts with the traditional orientation for incoming students to the University of The West Indies at COB LL.B programme. While this event is a very exciting prospect to our small programme, all I could ask myself as I woke up on  the last Friday morning of summer, was...why so early? 

Orientation was scheduled to begin at 10:00 am in the Harry C. Moore Library Auditorium, but in true local Bahamian style, 30 minutes later we were under way. The President of the Law Society, Theominique Nottage, planned a simple but compact orientation schedule that featured a welcome by the newly appointed LL.B Department Head, Rubie Nottage and addresses from faculty members like Sashane Mcdonald, an Oxford University educated real property and criminal law lecturer.

Unfortunately, the Head of Department, Rubie Nottage, was unable to attend because of other pressing matters. However, Ms. McDonald supplemented her welcome nicely with some guidelines the faculty of the programme expected the new students to follow, and some candid advice on beginning the strenuous three years ahead.

Time honoured responsibilities like being on time, and being proactive about work was shared and seemed to be welcomed by the incoming students who sat and listened attentively to the welcome address. 

The rest of the programme followed in a blur with introductions of the law society and a discussion of the society's importance and advocacy on behalf of the students. 

Recent LL.B graduates and current Eugene Dupuch Law School students, Year II and Year I respectively, Viraj Perpall, and Elizabeth Mitchell-Daxon also spoke to the new students giving great advice on how to survive the LL.B programme and tips on what to expect. Material like student to student conduct and respect for peers was stressed as well as helpful hints from using the library to study habits.

Current students, Glenn Curry and yours truly also spoke to the excited new students on our experiences to date in the programme in the hope that the students could gain an even better perspective as they enter the hallowed halls of the BTTC - our home away from home.

Not just filled with educational tips, the orientation helped the students loosen up a bit with icebreakers designed to introduce the students to each other and the law society. Snickers and Hersheys kisses were passed around, and as each student helped themselves they had to share tidbits of information about themselves. Greedy ones like me, with four snickers in hand, shared more than some, while the moderate chocolate eaters were happy to share just two personal facts about themselves.

One of the highlights of the orientation schedule was the full library access review and hand-out to the new students, showing them how to navigate the law library and behavioural practices expected of them.

The orientation closed out a little after noon with students leaving feeling a bit more equipped for the LLB programme and excited to begin to walk their path as the next generation of lawyers or as we like to call ourselves - social engineers. 

By Renee Farquaharson

Secretary, 2012 - 2013 

The University of the West Indies at The College of The Bahamas Law Society

Message from the President

Today is a new beginning. Not just for our incoming Class of 2015, but for all of us.

Today is the day where we not only welcome a new Head of Department, former Supreme Court Justice Mrs. Rubie Nottage, but we acknowledge the works of those who are no longer with us or whose positions have changed and thank them for the same.

Today is the day where we continue to move forward. We apply the experience we gained from the trials and errors of semesters past and we improve our performances, exceed expectations and achieve our academic goals.

Today is the day where we not only look ahead, but we also position ourselves to be ahead.

Today’s new beginning belongs to each of us; let us not waste a moment.

On behalf of The University of the West Indies at The College of The Bahamas Law Society’s Executive Committee, I wish each of you academic success and pray health and wellness in the months to come. Good luck and all the best!

Theominique D. Nottage

President, 2012 - 2013

The University of The West Indies at The College of The Bahamas Law Society

Ra'Monne Gardiner, UWI/COB LL.B Programme Senator, 2012 - 2013

What's your favorite quote?

"The stone that the builder rejected has now become the cornerstone." Psalms 118:22

Inspirational Person:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X

Areas of Interest:

Insurance Law, Contract Law

Major Goals 2012 - 2013:

To assist in advocating for the rights of students in the LL.B programme.

Hobbies: 

Basketball - watching and playing

Five years from now...

Fighting for the rights of Bahamians in the court of law and ensuring that I do my part to ensure justice in The Bahamas is done.

Personal Qualities:

Vision and leadership

Favorite Law Experience to Date:

Winning best speaker in the Legal Methods, Research and Writing Year I Moot 2011. 

Theominique D. Nottage, President, 2012 - 2013

What's your favorite quote?

"Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price." (Vince Lombardi)

This quote is not only my favorite but also my personal motto because it reminds me that no matter my natural talents, in order to be successful, I have to remain invested and committed to whatever goal I endeavor to attain through consistent hard work.

Inspirational Person:

I would name my mother as someone who inspires me daily. She grew up through Peter Street in the Over-the-Hill area and like many of her generation used education as a means to an end. She graduated from THE Government High School going on to attend the University of Western Ontario gaining a dual degree in Economics and Sociology and completed her education at the University of Miami where she earned an MBA. She was able to accomplish these things less than ten years following majority rule and less than fifteen years following universal suffrage. Today she is a career civil servant as a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.

Besides her academic and professional qualifications, my mother has also been an inspiration to me through her personal life. Despite the fact that she has been a single parent for the majority of my life, she has consistently been supportive of my goals and life choices always remaining my biggest fan.

Areas of Interest: 

International Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Civil Litigation, Commercial Law, Trust, Pro bono practice

Major Goals 2012 - 2013:

I would like to see the Law Society expand its advocacy programme. Last academic year 2011 – 2012, in my then capacity as Vice President of the Law Society, I spear-headed the organization of the first team from The Bahamas to ever compete in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Competition. This year in my capacity as President, I would like the advocacy programme extended beyond the Jessup to include the Caribbean Court of Justice International Law Moot as well as the Inter-American Human Rights Moot.

I would also like to see the Law Society become more active with regard to our social responsibility. We do have a major charity event planned for this year and it is my sincere hope that this will be quite successful.

Furthermore, I would like the Law Society, through its global citizenship programme, to offer language clinics to encourage members of the LL.B programme to become multilingual. We are also hoping to introduce a mentorship programme within the LL.B programme and eventually extend it to the legal community at large to foster networking among law students, junior lawyers and senior lawyers.

Additionally, I would like the Law Society to create a building fund in partnership with the College of The Bahamas to ensure that future members of the LL.B programme have an educational space unique to their needs as future legal practioners. This could also facilitate the creation of a Faculty of Law under the proposed University of The Bahamas.

Finally, I would like the Law Society to experience an increase of participation in its events and programmes from the members of the LL.B programme itself as well as the administration of the College of The Bahamas.

Hobbies: 

Joseph Story, an American lawyer and jurist once said that, “The law is a jealous mistress, and requires a long and constant courtship. It is not to be won by trifling favors, but by lavish homage." However, despite this fact of legal studies, I do still manage to maintain a few hobbies. These include reading, writing, the continued study of Spanish and Italian and other pet projects linked to global citizenship and national development. I would say that reading is my favorite hobby and authors I enjoy include Isabel Allende, Toni Morrison, Almudena Grandes and John Grisham. I am currently reading De amor y de sombra by Isabel Allende.

Five years from now...

In the next five years, following an LL.M in Arbitration and being qualified as a member of the New York State Bar, I see myself working as an associate in a local law firm with the goal to become partner before my fifth anniversary of being called to The Bahamas Bar. Additionally, it is my hope that in the next five years I will be able to contribute to the development of a baccalaureate degree programme in International Studies to be offered by the University/College of The Bahamas.

Personal Qualities:

I am organized, dedicated and a hard worker. I am aggressive in my pursuit of goals in all aspects of my life and tend to remain positive and enthusiastic about achieving goals despite minor setbacks or major obstacles.

Favorite Law Experience to Date:
 

In the past two years of my enrollment as an LL.B student, I must admit that I have had some great experiences, from attending the 2011 Margaret Forte Moot to the meeting the Attorney General and the Chief Justice, however my favorite experience to date has been participating in the Jessup. The Jessup remains my favorite experience as it combined my love of international law with my respect and encouragement of global citizenship while reinforcing my ideal that law is indeed a passion I must follow.