UWI law society at 50 presents scholarships

Three University of the West Indies law students have won scholarships to continue their studies from their student association.

On Thursday, the first of the trio, 22-year-old Leanne Earle, now in her third year at UWI Cave Hill, collected a scholarship worth $500.

The scholarships, which also went to one first-year and one second-year student, were made possible through the UWI Cave Hill Law Society and donations by former law students.

Immediate past president of the UWI Cave Hill Law Society Quincy Jones said he was hoping the scholarships would become a yearly exercise.

He said students continued to find it difficult to fund their studies and the Law Society was happy to help, adding that the Guild of Students would not be able to meet all the needs.

“During this COVID pandemic, a lot of students were asking for assistance. During my time as president, we did try to donate to students, but at the end of the day the request was a lot and we passed it on to the Guild of Students,” he said.

But with students having to adjust to online learning during the 2020/2021 academic year, the Law Society took the decision that as part of its 50th anniversary it would award students with scholarships with donations made by former law students.

“During our law week we came up with the theme ‘We Love Law’, and we decided as an executive to give out scholarships to three students – [one each] from first, second and third year,” said Jones.

Jones, who just ended his tenure as President of the Law Society, said he would like to see more Barbadians getting involved in various aspects of the law.

“We would like to tell young people to come and join the Law Faculty and become part of the legal fraternity. If they are not interested in becoming lawyers they can become judges and lecturers,” he said.

Earle said the award “will go a long way in helping me with my legal studies”. Indicating that she had a genuine passion for helping others, Earle said she will be specializing in company and family law.

She will be graduating in October and entering the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago to earn the Certificate of Legal Education to enable her to practise law.

To be eligible for the award, students had to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and be active in the Law Society’s events.
A 50th anniversary Law Society award will be presented to Gabrielle Gay.
(MM)