Legal Education Week February 11- 24, 2023

Legal Education Week (LEW) is one of the highlights of the EDLS academic year. Led by the Students’ Association (EDLSSA), LEW builds camaraderie amongst staff, students, and alumni as we get together for learning, fellowship, and fun.

LEW commenced with a community outreach event put on by the EDLSSA, the Genesis Junkanoo Organization’s TeenHawks and the Rotoract Club of East Nassau in the form of a breakfast giveaway. Other community engagement included a speech and debate competition featuring high school students.

On Monday, February 13, the executive team of the EDLSSA was honored to be received by the Hon. Mr. Jomo Campbell Acting Attorney General. Mr. Campbell later addressed the student body at the Official Opening.

Throughout the week, students were addressed by astute professionals by way of seminars, lectures, and panel discussions on a variety of emerging and topical legal issues including those related to maritime law, cryptocurrency, and ‘marital rape’.

The week culminated with a half-day seminar hosted by the EDLS Criminal Law Clinic entitled, “The Money is Gone!” Financial Crime in The Bahamas.”

EDLS extends appreciation to all the presenters and facilitators for an enriching Legal Education Week.

The Law School’s annual concert and variety show, Dis-We-Bar, showcases the artistic talents of students, faculty and staff and members of the wider legal fraternity. The production also serves as a means of maintaining a connection between the Law School and the rest of the legal fraternity, as well as the Bahamian community at large, through the artistry of our students, alumni, faculty and members of the wider Bar.

Proceeds from the concert benefit a selected charity each year.

The tradition of dining at EDLS was introduced in 2001 by the Law School’s first Principal, the late Mr. Justice Austin Davis. The objective of the student dinner, which is attended by students, and members of the legal fraternity, namely Judges, EDLS faculty and other members of the Bar, is to expand the students’ learning opportunities beyond the classroom walls and to “foster a corporate spirit” between the Bench, Bar and Law student. Students have the opportunity to sit at the elbows of their learned seniors to hear of their experiences in the law and to absorb nuances of the profession to aid them in their professional development.

In 2022, dining took place across several jurisdictions, namely, The Bahamas, Guyana, Jamaica, Belize, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Mr. Raynard Rigby K.C., guest speaker at the student dinner held in Nassau, The Bahamas, admonished students to “possess the highest level of motivation, endurance, personal sacrifice, self-ability and passion.”