The Canadian Government funded Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) Project continued its survey of legal education from October 17th – November 8th. The team of IMPACT Justice Consultants comprising Professor Jane Ching, Dr. Noel Watson and Dr. Adrian Cummins, Q.C., conducted interviews in Barbados, St. Lucia,St. Vincent , Grenada, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Belize.
In each country, interviews were arranged with Attorneys General, Ministers of Education, Deans of Faculties of Law, Principals of Law Schools, Presidents of Law Societies, Bar Associations and prominent attorneys-at-law.
The Survey of Legal Education, which is now in its final phase, was suggested by the Council of Legal Education. It is intended to consider the purpose of legal education and revisit the “West Indian System” to see how thinking has changed since it was designed in the 1960s and consider whether it is adequately meeting the needs of the region.
The consultants have already visited The Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis and Dominica to interview key stakeholders in these territories.
The Report and recommendations contained therein will be presented to CARICOM Member State Governments to inform policy making on regional legal education.
