Dear Students,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome all new students and continuing students to the Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. We in the Faculty of Law are committed to leading you through your legal studies on your path to becoming true legal scholars. You have made an excellent choice!

Glanville Williams wrote in 1945 in his book Learning the Law, that "Law is the cement of society and an essential medium for change." This statement was first published 78 years ago and remains true today.  I feel positive that you will find the study of law here an enriching and rewarding one that will create a strong foundation for your future professional endeavours. The study of law is demanding, but I feel confident that you will be successful during this journey. Your study requires that you remain focused and committed on your final goal and to jealously guard against distractions.

The Faculty of Law has a long tradition of excellence and training distinguished legal scholars to serve the Caribbean region. The Faculty of Law at the UWI St Augustine Campus boasts an impressive and extensive network of past and present students that spans the entire Commonwealth Caribbean region and beyond. We are immensely proud of our alumni who occupy many of the senior offices in government and the legal profession and who continue to give outstanding service to the region. The skills you will develop during your studies at the Faculty of Law will enrich your lives and will prepare you for a career not only in the legal profession, but in politics, business, finance, and many others.

The Faculty of Law is at an exciting stage in its development. During the course of each academic year, we hope to deepen the ties between the Faculty and its alumni as well as many stakeholders in government and the private sector in mutually beneficial ways. We plan to create opportunities for existing students to further leverage networks through several outreach activities, including conferences, seminars, workshops, etc.

The St. Augustine Faculty of Law has an outstanding team of academic and administrative support staff. We work diligently to ensure that the Faculty offers a quality learning experience and also contribute to the development of the region through research and publications. Our administrative staff have extensive professional experience in dealing with student matters and they are here to support you during your studies. I encourage you all to make the most of the opportunities you have to benefit from our academic staff and administrative support staff, from their experience and expertise.

At the St. Augustine Faculty of Law we take particular pride in exemplifying the University’s core value of ‘studentcentredness’ while offering a first-class, competitive academic programme rooted in the realities of the Caribbean experience. As such, our academic programme is tailored to allow for realisation of students’ full academic potential as well as for their personal development and growth outside of the law.

At the Faculty we hope that you harness your full potential and reach your highest attainable standard of achievement. The Faculty supports students’ personal development through its vibrant Law Society which enjoys a close relationship with staff generally. In addition, our students can also build their personal development through vibrant extra-curricular activities involving conferences, seminars, research and publications. Students can also benefit from various mooting, writing and mentorship activities as well as various activities organized by the Student Society. As you pursue your legal studies, we encourage you to find balance. You are urged to make full use of all of these extra-curricular activities that form an integral part of the rich learning experience offered by the Faculty of Law at the St Augustine campus.

Welcome again to all new and continuing students. We wish you every success with your legal studies during the current academic year!

Dr Alicia Elias-Roberts

Dean, Faculty of Law

The University of the West Indies

St Augustine Campus