Life as a student in the present realities of the Caribbean economy can be near impossible at times, particularly for students pursuing a legal career. The study of law not only takes a toll on time and ability but certainly finances as well. In response to this,
Keithley Lake & Associates, Attorneys-at-Law of The Valley, Anguilla and
Daniel Brantley & Associates, Barristers & Solicitors of Charlestown, Nevis, are pleased to announce that two scholarship winners have been selected to receive awards for the 2007/2008 academic year. The Keithley Lake & Associates and Daniel Brantley & Associates Scholarships ( were launched in 2006 as a result of both firms' desire to assist deserving students enrolled in the Certificate of Legal Education Programme of the Norman Manley Law School. An interesting thing to note is that the firms have made it a point of their duty to ensure that the scholarship is available only to Caribbean nationals. This, no doubt, is in an effort to encourage development in the Caribbean's legal landscape. The fortunate recipients this year are
Sherry-Ann Liburd of Nevis and
Alwayne Smith of Jamaica. Each Scholarship is worth US$2,500.00 (or EC$6,700.00). An additional bursary worth US$1,000.00 (or EC$2,600.00) was also awarded by both firms to Harold Malcolm, also a student at the Norman Manley Law School.
Sherry-Ann Liburd, from the island of Nevis, graduated from the University of the West Indies, Faculty of Law with a first class honours degree in law in 2006 topping off an impressive undergraduate academic performance. She continued her outstanding performance by becoming the recipient of the Michael March Memorial Prize for the Law of Remedies after her first year in law school. True to her excellent performance, Sherry-Ann has participated in several extra curricular activities in the wider community of Jamaica and has managed these pursuits well even while at law school.
Alwayne Smith, possesses two degrees from the University of the West Indies and has performed extremely well during his first year at Norman Manley Law School. One would assume that with such an impressive academic track record Alwayne must only have time for the books. However, he has also proven himself to be quite the humanitarian, being actively involved in organisations such as Law School Christian Fellowship, Human Rights Committee and the National Initiative for Street Children. This demonstrates his ability to balance his academic pursuits with co-curricular involvement at the law school and even beyond.
Already possessing a Masters degree in Literatures in English from Clark University, Massachusetts is Harold Malcolm. He also graduated from the University of the West Indies with a first class honours degree in law and is presently in his second year of law school. Besides being involved in a number of civic and volunteer organisations, Harold manages to teach part time and still be on top of his game at law school.
Although these students clearly possess amazing drive and confidence, they are three of a number of others, who vied for both the scholarships and bursary. Mark Brantley, Managing Partner of Daniel, Brantley & Associates states: "I am very proud of the scholarship winners and our bursary winner this year. I am especially pleased that a Nevisian, Sherry-Ann Liburd, who has the proven intellectual capacity to achieve great things for herself, her family, her country and the wider regional and international community, was a recipient..."
"This year's scholarship winners were selected from an outstanding pool of applicants who we hope will contribute positively to the development of their respective countries and the Caribbean as a whole," said Managing Partner of Keithley Lake & Associate, Yvette Wallace. "We are investing in the development of legal education in the region. We trust others will be so moved to play their part in this process." And so they should, as this is a sterling display by both law firms of the way forward in creating a relevant and impactful legal heritage.
Keithley Lake & Associates continues to be pleased to assist in the legal education of the young people of our Caribbean region and continues to commit itself to the promotion and encouragement of excellence.
