Phillips admitted to Bar

His first intention was to follow in the footsteps of Nobel Prize winners Sir Arthur Lewis and V.S. Naipaul, but his journey thus far, has brought him to a different calling, that of barrister and solicitor.{{more}}

Last Friday, Redemption Sharpes resident Jomokie Phillips was admitted to the Bar by Justice Wesley James, after a proposal brought by Sylvester Raymond-Cadette, and seconded by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, at the High Court in Kingstown.

The former Richmond Hill Government and St Martin’s Secondary School student, in his first speech as a lawyer, pointed out that he was initially focused on becoming an economist, then a writer, when he was encouraged to take law by Cadette, which he did at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College.

Phillips credited his, and other young lawyers’ decision to become lawyers to lecturer Cheryl Ann Smith, whom he said taught students to think, act and write like lawyers.

Phillips went on to the University of the West Indies Cave Hill, then to the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago.

Throughout his sojourn, Phillips garnered numerous awards, and frequently represented his learning institutions at various fora, summits and conferences.

Phillips thanked a number of persons for his achievements, and for keeping him grounded and focused during his studies, firstly his mother, whom he described as his Rock of Gibraltar.

He also thanked his sister and other family members, co-workers and friends, including Cadette, Gonsalves, and PR Campbell Q.C.

A temporary legal advisor at the Inland Revenue Department, Phillips declared that exciting times are ahead in the legal profession, which he is happy to be around for, and welcomed with open arms.

“My Lord, that is the task to which I have committed myself and I assure this honourable Court that I shall not fail. I shall not,” Phillips declared.(JJ)