Dear Editor,

The Norman Manley Law School (NMLS) is the premier legal body knighted with the responsibility to provide legal education and training in Jamaica and other relevant territories. It must be noted that it is the only local agent for anyone to officially qualify to practise law in Jamaica. It follows, therefore, that its activities and operations are of far-reaching importance to the general administration of justice in Jamaica.

We are fully aware of the many accolades and international achievements of the school. My favourite being that the NMLS has taken the Human Rights World Moot Competition championship trophy for an unprecedented three consecutive years, wherein they were able to beat several prestigious law institutions including the great Yale.

Unfortunately, however, the demand to attend this institution has reached significant levels. It can’t be that for an institution that is subsidised by the people of Jamaica, who have a genuine interest in the good administration of justice, less than two per cent of applicants by entrance examination are able to attend this most noble institution.

According to recent statistics published by American Bar Association, the acceptance rate for Yale Law School was 8.9 per cent, Harvard Law School, 15.4 per cent, and Stanford Law School 9.1 per cent.

The current arrangement with the University of the West Indies (UWI) students being allowed automatic entry is long-standing and statute-based (Article 3 of the Council of Legal Education). I have no issue with that. However, based on the exponential growth of the UWI law programme (2009, 194 students; 2010, 265; 2011, 433), it would appear that it is time for the respective stakeholders to examine how best to treat the demand for training to join the legal profession.

It is my view that there should not be any form of trepidation regarding the high demand for training lawyers, teachers, police, engineers, doctors, etc. We are making our people educated and informed to represent Jamaica on the global market, wherein many will inevitably work upon graduation. As the very patron of the law school, Norman Manley, once stated: “Access to education is the beginning of growth and self-actualisation.”

Richard Longmore

General Manager

Jamaica Racing Commission

richardlongmore@yahoo.com