Trinidadian attorney Renaldo Ramjohn has chosen Guyana to begin his legal career, with an interest in criminal law and a desire to learn from experienced practitioners here.

The 24-year-old from Freeport, Caroni, was admitted to the Bar on Thursday, October 8, 2026, before Justice Nicola Pierre, following a petition presented by attorney-at-law Bernard Da Silva.

A recent graduate of the Hugh Wooding Law School, Ramjohn developed his interest in criminal defence through practical training with Trinidad and Tobago’s Public Defenders Department. Interviewing people on remand helped him understand the responsibility of representing someone accused of a crime.

His admission also marks a family milestone. He is the first in his family to pursue higher education, supported by parents whose sacrifices helped sustain his ambitions.

His father worked long hours as a truck driver, while his mother was a dispatcher at the same transport company. Although her formal education ended at primary school, Ramjohn credits her with encouraging his studies and instilling discipline.

“Though she never had the opportunity to go beyond primary school herself, she was my first and most enduring teacher,” he said in an account of his journey.

 

Raised alongside grandparents and cousins he regarded as siblings, Ramjohn said his upbringing taught him to see achievement as a way to support others.

 

“I learned early on that success is not just about individual achievement because it is about uplifting those around you,” he said.

 

He attended Freeport Hindu School and Couva East Secondary before completing his Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination studies at Carapichaima East Secondary.

 

Ramjohn began his law degree at the University of the West Indies’ St Augustine campus as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education across the region. His first two years were spent studying online.

 

After returning to campus in his final year, he represented the university at the 13th Annual Caribbean Court of Justice International Law Moot. That introduction to advocacy helped confirm his choice of career.

 

At the Hugh Wooding Law School, he participated in student committees and helped regional students adjust to life in Trinidad and Tobago. He also organised Sunday cricket sessions to give students an opportunity to connect outside the classroom.

 

Alongside his practical training, Ramjohn competed in regional advocacy contests. His team finished second in the Berry International Arbitration Law Moot in Barbados. As lead defence advocate in the Margaret Forte Criminal Mock Trial Competition, he helped his team achieve another second-place finish.

 

His late grandmother remains an important influence. During their childhood debates, she would tell him he could become a good lawyer. She died around the time he was choosing his career path.

Now admitted to practise in Guyana, Ramjohn hopes to build on that foundation by learning from established attorneys and developing the skills to represent people who need legal support.