Programmes

Six-month Programme

The Council of Legal Education (Caribbean) offers to common law professionally trained persons a six-month course of training leading to the award of the Legal Education Certificate which is recognized in the participating territories as the professional qualification for admission to practice. The course begins in September and ends in March in each year.

Approved Qualifications For Entry To The Law School

An applicant for admission to the six-month programme must:

  1. have obtained a degree of a University or institution which is recognized by the Council as being equivalent to the degree of Bachelor of Laws of the University of the West Indies; and
  2. hold either:
    1. a qualification which had it been obtained prior to 1st October, 1972, would have been recognized by all of the participating territories as a qualification to be admitted to practise as a barrister or solicitor in those territories; or
    2. a qualification obtained in a common law jurisdiction for admission to practise law in that jurisdiction and which qualification is approved by the Council; and
  3. furnish a certificate of good standing from the competent authority in the jurisdiction where he/she has been admitted to practise.

Courses offered are:

Constitutional Law

Course Director:
Prof. Stephen Vasciannie

The Council of Legal Education requires students in the Six-Month programme, as well as transitional students to take pursue a course of study on the Constitutional Law of the Commonwealth Caribbean. This course requires students to develop an understanding of the forces that have shaped Commonwealth Caribbean Constitutions, the main principles that are enshrined in Westminster export model constitutions, and the case law that has developed in respect of these constitutions. Emphasis is placed on the structure of government and the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals. This course is tested by assignment only.

Law and Legal Systems

Course Director:
Prof. Stephen Vasciannie

The course on Law and Legal Systems is also a required course for students in the Six-Month programme and transitional students. This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the way the Caribbean legal system works, and to allow comparisons between the common law systems of the Caribbean and other legal traditions. Building on issues that have their foundation in Caribbean Constitutional Law, this course includes consideration of questions such as the development of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the provenance of different sources of law in Caribbean legal practice, and proposed reforms to the legal systems of individual Caribbean States. This course is tested by assignment only.

Criminal Practice and Procedure

Course Director:
Hon. Mr. Justice Paul Harrison, OJ
Associate Tutors:
Hon. Mr. Justice Bryan Sykes
Hon. Mr. Justice F.A. Smith, CD
Ms. Paul Llewellyn, CD, QC
Mr. Kirk Anderson
Mrs. Vinette Graham Allen
Miss Lisa Palmer
Mrs. Jacqueline Samuels-Brown
Mr. Clyde Williams

Practice and procedure in summary courts created by statute. Preliminary inquiries and similar process. Coroners' Inquest. Appeals from summary courts. Practice and procedure in higher courts-indictments, information, trial by jury, verdict, sentence, compensation and costs in criminal cases.

Appeals to Courts of Appeal from conviction on indictment or information. Powers of Courts of Appeal, application of the proviso in criminal appeals. Rights, obligations, powers and duties of Police. General principles relating to punishment. Prisons, Borstals, Juvenile detention centres, probations, suspended sentences, fines, bonds.

Appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, as of right, by leave of Courts of Appeal, by special leave of the Judicial Committee. Procedure in appeals to the Privy Council.

Law Office Management, Accounting and Technology

Course Directors:
Mr. Warren Clark Cousins
Mr. Michael Roofe
Associate Tutors:
Ms. Sharon Donaldson

General principles of office management. Bookkeeping and accounts. Double entry book-keeping. The interpretation of balance sheets. Accounts generally and the separation of clients' accounts from personal accounts. The preparation of bills of cost in legal proceedings. Records, filing and safekeeping of clients' documents. Taxation of professional men. Duty to make tax returns. Professional advice on taxation.

The Principal may add to, or exempt a student from, any of the foregoing subjects having regard to his professional qualification and experience. On successful completion of the course of study, the student is awarded the Council's Legal Education Certificate (L.E.C.). This entitles him or her to be admitted to practise law.

Students in the Six- Month programme are also required to attend at court under a programme of court attendance (to be drawn up by the Principal) and perform exercises and the observation of practices and procedures in a legal aid clinic or law office.

Download Applications

If you would like to apply for our 6 month programme, download the following forms.