One hundred and ninety-six new attorneys were admitted to practice law.
The call to the bar took place during four hearings at the Convocation Hall at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain, over two days.
High Court judges Devindra Rampersad and Kathy-Ann Waterman-Latchoo presided over the hearings on Thursday, while their colleagues Justice Gail Gonzales and Jacqueline Wilson presided over the hearings on Friday.
In her address to the new attorneys, Justice Waterman-Latchoo encouraged the new attorneys to remember the oath they took as they commenced their careers in the legal fraternity.
“Recognise that your first obligation is to the court and the oath you took, not to yourself and even your client,” Justice Waterman-Latchoo said.
“Would you be puffed up with arrogance instead of tempering your thoughts with humility?” she asked.
Justice Waterman-Latchoo, who worked as a newspaper editor before joining the legal profession, also advised the attorneys against snubbing journalists.
“You don’t have to like them. Lots of people don’t like lawyers either. Journalists also have a role in building our democracy,” she said.
She also warned the attorneys about being cautious in their use of social media.
“Guard against bringing the court and the administration of justice into disrepute by airing your client’s unmentionables on the public washing line,” she said.
Justice Waterman-Latchoo also shared a quote from former Chief Justice and Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) President Michael de la Bastide from the opening of the 1997/1998 Law Term, which she said resonated with her when she joined the profession.
High Court Judge Ricky Rahim, right and his wife Natasha, left pose with their daughter Isabell outside the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain after she was called to the bar on Friday. Attorney-at-law Theresa Hadad, second from right presented Isabell’s petition during the ceremony.
De la Bastide said: “Be intolerant. Be intolerant of incompetence, inefficiency, and of inertia. Be as intolerant of these as you are and should be of injustice. If intolerance of this kind was to spread, who knows what wonders we might perform?”
In her address the following day, Justice Gonzales also encouraged the attorneys to be mindful of ethics as they join the profession during a period of transition.
“Despite all of these changes, there are certain things that must remain constant and unchanged. One of those things is the need for attorneys to practice with some degree of ethics and morality,” she said.
“These rules, which embody the principles of honesty, integrity, and transparency, must be the bedrock of any legal career,” Justice Gonzales added.
Justice Gonzales warned the attorneys to refrain from taking on more cases than they can manage as she suggested that such is a major contributor to delays in the administration of justice.
“If you cannot handle a matter expeditiously without undue delay please refuse the retainer. Pass it on to someone else,” Justice Gonzales said.
She also cautioned against inflating their fees based on their client’s ability to pay.
“Whilst you may wish to attract a certain type of clientèle, your services should be available to anyone who can afford to pay a fair and reasonable fee,” she said.
