The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY GENERAL Allyson Maynard Gibson urged the graduates of the Norman Manley Law School to consider a career in public service rather than forming their own private practices.

Speaking to the new lawyers, Mrs Maynard Gibson said despite the negative stigma’s attached to a career in the Public Sector, many public defendants have long successful careers.

“Having spoken about the exciting environment in which you will be practising, I want to touch on the arena in which you will be practising.

“I believe that most, if not all, of the Attorneys General and Ministers of Justice in the region, would join me in encouraging you to consider practice in the public sector,” she said.

“Growth nationally and regionally requires a strong and efficient public sector. Affecting and advising on national and regional policy and advising on matters that impact the nation brings tremendous job satisfaction. Working in Legal Aid and Public Defender agencies also brings job satisfaction. And, to the question of whether those jobs ‘pay the bills’, I say to you look around you; your Attorney General had a very successful career as a Public Defender; your Solicitor General continues to enjoy success in the public sector, the Bahamas’ Director of Legal Affairs, here with me tonight, continues to enjoy a successful career in the public sector. The point is, highly respected people work in the public sector, they have tremendous job satisfaction, they are “well known and successful lawyers” and they ‘pay their bills’.”

Mrs Maynard Gibson also told the graduates that the efficiency and administration of justice is still one of the major issues challenging small states.

She said however, that she believes the younger generation of graduates will push the judiciary towards and ‘e’ movement.

“Efficiency also means that you will complete the “e” movement in the administration of justice. I believe that before the end of this decade, all court documents will be filed online, the complete digital file will be available online to parties and nonparties, video conferencing will become the norm for witnesses out of the jurisdiction and there will be considerable growth in the use of virtual courts,” she said.