The list is out, and only seven outsiders have made it.

Despite the fact that over 400 non-UWI students sat the entrance examination for a chance to be enrolled at the Norman Manley Law School (NMLS), the institution only admitted seven for the 2015/2016 academic year.

With the emergence of different tertiary institutions offering law at the undergraduate level and the recent expansion of the law faculty at the University of the West Indies (UWI), the competition to be offered a space at the prestigious institution is fierce.

Non-UWI law students from across the Caribbean (especially in Jamaica) all have to compete for entry into the NMLS to complete requirements to receive their legal education certification.

“We only have space for seven,” principal of the NMLS, Carol Aina told the Jamaica Observer.

“This is because of the treaty (of Chaguaramas), the fact that we have students repeating, and students who deferred last year who have indicated that they wish to start this year,” she explained.

To be granted entry into the institution, outside students, as stipulated by the Council of Legal Education, are expected to sit a Bar entrance examination. The candidates pay US$150 to the Council to sit the exam and are tested in five subject areas of law.

“All candidates are required to obtain 50 per cent in each of the courses offered… [that is in] equity, property, criminal law and contract and tort,” Aina stated.

But according to the principal, of the students who sat the examination for admission into NMLS this year, “only 17 managed to pass all core courses.”

“We’ve made offers to the top students,” she said, indicating that if any other offers are to be made it is on condition that a student is unable to start the programme this year.

A Jamaica Observer investigation revealed that of the seven students offered a position; five were from the University of Technology (UTECH) and two from other tertiary institutions in the island.

Outraged by this revelation, one senior member of the legal profession who requested to remain anonymous said: “At least 50 per cent of the students can get more than 50 per cent in the exam, which is not hard.”

“You are telling me that 300 people do three years of law, sit an exam and only seven passed? Something must be wrong,” he continued in disbelief.

The Treaty of Chaguaramas, which established the Norman Manley Law School, provides for automatic admission of students graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Article Three of the treaty outlines that every person with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from UWI will be eligible for admission to the three law schools in the region. It states that every person with a degree from another university or institution recognised by the Council as being equivalent to the University of the West Indies LLB degree will, subject to the availability of places and to such conditions (if any) as the Council may require, be eligible for admission to the law schools.

In dismissing claims that the selection process for entrance into the institution is biased, Aina told the Sunday Observer that for the automatic matriculation of UWI students to be stopped, that change would not be easy. She said that for this to happen the heads of government across the region would have to meet and amend an over 40-year-old clause in the treaty.

When asked about the lack of space despite the recent construction of a new NMLS building on the UWI Mona campus, the principal maintained that there was no space to accommodate additional students.

“We admit 270 for year one,” Aina said, highlighting that that is an increase from what was usually admitted in the past.

The principal said the school was originally built to accommodate 170 students but now accommodates up to 570 students annually.

She said the new building would only house year two students and the legal aid clinic — the arm of the school that provides subsidise professional legal services to persons. It is through this avenue that second year students of NMLS receive practical training.

The institution which is one of three law schools within the region trains prospective lawyers to practice within the profession in the Commonwealth Caribbean territories.

The senior member of the legal profession outlined that three years ago Michael Gonzales, a student who did law at UTECH who fought his way into NMLS, graduated valedictorian and top of his class after completing his legal certificate at the institution.