The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the job attachment programme for student lawyers and it’s causing this island’s Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham great concern.
A new batch of attorneys is scheduled to be called to the Bar next Friday.
However, in welcoming one of those young legal minds to listen to the virtual proceedings of the Court of Appeal today, Sir Patterson said he was “troubled” that this crop of new attorneys had had no training.
“There was a terrible deficiency in the training programme for the students through no fault of their own. This is part of the ripple [effect] of COVID. They were not able to have that attachment period and to extract maximum benefit from it. It troubles me that they are being called to the Bar and that attachment period, there were no benefits that accrued from it.
“I am not sure how best we will address that but it remains deeply troubling . . . It needs to be addressed,” he said.
Veteran attorney Sir Elliott Mottley, who agreed with the Chief Justice, suggested that the Barbados Bar Association be contacted and consulted on the matter.
“For them to put on a couple of free seminars by way of Zoom which would introduce [them] into practice because there is a big gap between law school and the actual practice. Simple things like addressing the court and being on time . . . these are things that people take for granted. If you are fortunate to be in a firm then you will get these things inculcated into you. If you are not, then you are left on your own.
“Your concern is well taken and I will suggest that you raise it with the Bar Association to have some seminars where the senior lawyers can address that,” Sir Elliott submitted.
The Chief Justice agreed with the proposal adding that members of the judiciary at the Magistrate, High Court and Court of Appeal levels may also need to be added to such seminars and address new attorneys.
“To speak to them and give them some practical illustrations of what it is all about because clearly, we cannot have them being foisted – and I use that word cautiously – on the public with no understanding of what it is they are going to do. It troubles me,” Sir Patterson added. (FW)
