After graduating with honours from the Hugh Wooding Law School this year, 23-year-old Janet Adeba Ali has been admitted to Guyana’s bar to practice law in Guyana.
Ali’s petition was presented by Attorney-at-Law Jamela Ali before Chief Justice Roxane George.
During the petition, the Chief Justice advised Ali to always seek guidance from her seniors in the profession and to always keep abreast with and uphold the laws of Guyana, in order to have a striving career.
Ali’s early education started at Queens College where she gained 12 subjects at CXC.
The lawyer secured a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Guyana and subsequently continued her legal education at Hugh Wooding Law School.
In an interview with Guyana Times International after being admitted to the bar, an enthusiastic Ali expounded that becoming lawyer has been a life-long dream, which was inspired by her grandfather at the young age of three.
She explained that the journey throughout law school was challenging, but even so, she is thankful for the support from family members.
“Well as the quote says that law is a jealous mistress, so law requires a lot of dedication and sacrifice. When I was studying at the Hugh Wooding Law School, I was financed by my family, who was the strongest support system that I could have asked for and I am eternally grateful to them,” said Ali.
She added that she pursued legal education not only because of inspiration from family members but “because I see it as an avenue through which I can serve a good purpose in society – I can be a voice for the voiceless – I am particularly interested in helping persons to resolve their disputes and still be amicable after it is over”.
“Mediation is a great avenue through which this can be possible and now is the time where people should become more aware of this service. The new civil procedure rules have been in existence for 3 years now where mandatory court-annexed mediation can be ordered – this is one of the areas that I intend to put some effort in. It is not only a faster and more cost-efficient and feasible for many Guyanese. In terms of criminal law, my interests lie more in prosecution rather than defence, therefore, putting forward cases for the State,” expressed Ali.
The enthusiastic lawyer explained that she is also willing to pursue a career as a prosecutor, since her aunt is the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack.
