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.