By: Nicholas Bass
The Gambia Law School on Monday graduated 82 studentsduring the school’s 13th graduation ceremony held at the Banjul High Court.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director of The Gambia Law School, Rougie Thomasi, said the results of the final exams for this year’s batch were exciting among which 52 passed and21 failed only one course, adding that those that failed one course have now re-sat and have passed their course.
Thomasi disclosed that seven students, who failed two courses, have obtained passes while nine students who failed more than three courses will have their final attempt to complete the program.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dawda Jallow, stressed that the occasion was of great significance ”not only for each of you who are called to the Bar but for our entire legal community”, stressing that it was a moment of reflectionand celebration as the graduates anticipate to take the responsibility that lies ahead of them.
He revealed that out of the 93 candidates, who sat for bar exams, only 82 were qualified for graduation, stating that such testament not only revealed the graduates’ hard work and perseverance but also showed a growing strength and resilience in the legal community.
”It is inspiring to see so many of you from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to the ideals of justice and the rule of law,” the justice minister acknowledged.
”As lawyers, you will be called upon to defend individuals’ rights, provide legal counsel, and serve as the guardians of justice. This is a role that comes with great responsibility. You are entrusted not only with the power of the law but also with the trust of the people. And that trust must never be taken for granted. It must be earned through every action, decision, and case you undertake,” he added.
For his part, the Chief Justice, Hassan B. Jallow, started by congratulating the graduates, stating that out of a total of 82, 41 were non-Gambians and the rest were Gambians from different parts of the country.
CJ Jallow said that with the call to bar, it is an important milestone, adding that after a year of pupillage, if the General Legal Council finds any of the graduates fit, they shall be enrolled and given the title of legal practitioner.
Isha Jasseh, the overall best student in her vote of thanks said that God’s grace enables them to sail through their education,stressing that the encouragement of friends ,family members and their lecturers also stirred them through the storms of lives at The Gambia Law School.
”Law School was not only an academic challenge but a personal journey, self-goal and personal discovery. The sleepless nights, the highs and lows and the anxious moments. This one thing that keeps us going,” Jasseh said.
Meanwhile, Amie Gomez took the award of professional conduct, Muhammed Ceesay was awarded as the best advocacy skills, Isha Jasseh as the best civil procedure and the overall best and other awards were also given to deserving graduates.