Guyana has reached a historic milestone with the official approval from the Council of Legal Education (CLE) to establish the country’s first law school—ending decades of frustration for aspiring lawyers who faced limited access to regional institutions.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali made the announcement today during his swearing-in ceremony at State House. Some five acres of land at Turkeyen, adjacent to the University of Guyana, have already been allocated for the project.
For years, Guyana was restricted to just 25 annual placements at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago, leaving scores of graduates unable to advance their training and qualify as practicing attorneys. With the CLE’s approval, Guyana will now join the network of institutions in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Bahamas, enabling its graduates to earn their Legal Education Certificate at home.
Under the arrangement, the Government of Guyana will provide the land and infrastructure, while the CLE will manage the institution and its students—ensuring the school meets regional standards and granting graduates full rights to practice across CARICOM.
President Ali hailed the development as a game-changer for the legal fraternity, emphasising that “this will enable hundreds of persons to qualify as Attorneys-at-Law right here in Guyana, with full rights to practice in CARICOM countries.”
The announcement also came alongside wider education initiatives. Within six weeks, the government plans to expand access to medical and engineering studies in Regions Two, Three, Six, and Nine, as part of its effort to decentralize higher education and equip regions with skills in high-demand sectors.
