Senior Reporter
jensen.lavende@guardian.co.tt
Former president of the Law Association senior counsel Douglas Mendes did not mince words when he called for the overhauling of the process to award attorneys with the rank of silk.
Speaking at a celebratory function at Justitia Omnibus Law Chambers led by head of the Criminal Bar Association Israel Khan, SC, on Friday, Douglas said some junior attorneys feel aggrieved that they were overlooked to be awarded “silk”, the common term for the appointment to senior counsel status, because of a process that is not transparent.
Those honoured by the association were Lee Merry, Gregory Delzin, Hasine Shaikh, Elaine Greene, and Keith Scotland. Douglas said the attorneys who believe they should have been awarded senior counsel rank and were not are hurting, and that should be considered.
“Our colleagues are hurting. They are taking it out in the wrong places; they are criticising the president of the Law Association, Lynette Seebaran-Suite, unnecessarily and unfairly, in my view. It is hurtful. It is more hurtful because the process has been put in place despite the Law Association’s tireless efforts over the years to change the process.”
He attributed it to a process that is not transparent and ultimately relies on the opinion of a single individual.
“It is a bad process! It is a wrong process, and it needs to be changed. We have to understand that, as a result, people are hurting,” he said.
Mendes said the attributes for being awarded silk should include integrity, honesty, knowledge of the law, and involvement in important cases. He said those appointed senior counsel are the ones that younger attorneys look up to for guidance, and that makes the award an important one.
He said he was assured that while some may have issues with certain people being awarded silk, the five honoured by the Criminal Bar Association are not among them.
The process for awarding senior counsel status has been called into question in the past. Last week, three independent senators and one opposition senator said the process should be reviewed.
Khan, who challenged the awarding of silk to 15 attorneys last year, said if he wins his case in September, all attorneys, including himself with senior counsel rank, may have to return it.
On March 7, 2023, Khan brought a claim that the President should not be advised by the Cabinet, a minister, or the prime minister on the award of silk. The Law Association is an interested party in the case.