University of Guyana Law Programme

Orientation & Course Notes

General Programme Structure

 Assessment: Courses are primarily assessed by assignments, exams, and tutorials.
 Mode of Delivery:
o All courses are conducted online except for Science, Medicine, and Technology
(SMT) taught by Dr. Van Veen.
o Students are welcome to come into the law building and use facilities.
 Exams:
o All examinations are face-to-face.
o There are no online exams.

Attendance Policy
 Minimum 75% attendance required.
 Attendance will be taken in classes.
 Failure to meet the threshold means you may not be allowed to write exams.

Academic Integrity
 University Plagiarism Policy applies.
 Turn It In used to check plagiarism.
 Artificial Intelligence policy: improper use of AI tools is considered misconduct.
 Always cite cases, statutes, and proper sources.

Workshops & Student Activities

 Workshops should be treated as compulsory; attend all.
 Participation in student activities is encouraged (UG Law Society, Moot Court, etc.).
 How to answer law questions:
o Always apply IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion).
o Authority (cases, statutes, articles) must be cited in every answer.

Legal Professions Overview

 Barrister: Courtroom advocacy (talking on behalf of clients).
 Solicitor: Paperwork, documentation, client preparation.
 Lawyer (in Guyana/Caribbean): Merged profession – Both roles are done.
UG Law Society
 Promotes fellowship among law students.
 Organizes events, networking, and academic support.
 Pinning Ceremony:
o Every student receives a pin (symbol of belonging and responsibility).
o Formal event; systems in place to help resolve student issues.

Class Representation
 Class reps act as liaisons between lecturers and students.
 They handle issues with exam grades, coursework, and class concerns.
 Role is described as tedious but important.

Orientation & Support

 Campus Tours: Ms. Douglas and Mr. Skeete available daily from 5–6 pm during this
week to give tours.
 General advice shared during orientation:
o Each semester has its own set of courses (Year 1 Semester 1 & 2).
o Focus areas: exam prep, resources, etiquette, professional relationship building.
o Q&A sessions are provided to clarify expectations.
 Dr. Van Veen: Open, approachable, and encourages fruitful discussions.

Science, Medicine & Technology (SMT)

 Evaluation:
o 1 Assignment (5–7 pages).
o 1 Forum Post per week (based on class discussion).
o 2 Short Papers.
o 1 Oral Presentation (debate or parliamentary debate).
o Class participation measured through forum posts.
o Requirement: Respond to at least 2 classmates in forum posts (about 250 words
each).
 Tips:
o Participate actively in class and forums.
o Weekly research is required for forum posts.
o Write personal notes quickly and clearly.

Caribbean Civilization
 Assessment:
o 40% coursework (interactions, group presentations).
 o 60% final exam.
 Advice:
o Heavy reading course; must read consistently.
o Participation is essential- Ms. Kitt calls on students in tutorials.
o Group work matters; choose groups wisely.
o Bring your own ideas, critique readings, and engage deeply with the material.
o Tutorials often cover material not discussed in general lectures- take detailed
notes.

Law & Legal Systems

 Builds deeper understanding; connects with constitutional law and legal research.
 Assessment:
o 40% coursework.
o 60% final exam.
 Group-based course; participation in tutorials is marked.
 Tips:
o Know cases from memory and cite them in coursework.
o Read all materials provided on Moodle and worksheets from the department.

Criminal Law I
 3 tutorial groups (each handled by a lecturer).
 Students are expected to present answers to tutorial questions; participation affects class
flow.
 Assessment:
o 25% coursework (group assignment - 1 of 5 questions).
o 75% final exam
 Key topics:
o Nature & purpose of criminal law.
o Strict liability.
o Causation.
o General defenses.
o Actus reus & mens rea.
 Tips:
o Read cases, focus on principles, not rote memorization.
o Engage in tutorials- exam questions mirror them.

Legal Methods
 Assessment:
o 2 assignments (40% each).
o 1 assignment (20%).
 Advice:
 o Lecturers provide materials; study all carefully.
o Ask questions- silence in class is discouraged.
o Avoid procrastination; manage time effectively.
 Collaboration emphasized but no group work noted in prior year.

Language & Argument

 Interactive and entertaining classes.
 Builds critical thinking, persuasion, and mooting skills.
 Assessment:
o 100% assignment-based.
o Group assignment expected.
 Group collaboration directly affects grades.

Legal Research & Writing

 Focus on enhanced legal writing skills.
 Assessment:
o 2 assignments (30% each).
o 1 assignment (40%).

Criminal Law II
 Assessment: 100% final exam (murder and related topics).
 Advice:
o Consistent preparation is required.
o Past papers and case law are crucial.

Law of Tort I
 Focus: civil wrongs vs criminal law.
 Assessment: 100% exam.
 Tips:
o Do tutorials diligently; note lecturer feedback.
o Study and apply cases in all answers.
o Recommended text: Commonwealth Caribbean Tort Law (available on
Megalink).
o Cases are the backbone of exam success.
o Do not underestimate this course.

Law of Contract I
 Deals with everyday contracts.
  Lecturers: Magistrate Bess (interactive) & Ms. Woolford.
 Advice:
o Direct questions to Magistrate Bess- he provides exam hints.
o Apply IRAC method consistently.
o Ms. Woolford provides partial exam guidance.

Constitutional Law
 Assessment:
o Midterm: 40% (presentations + written work).
o Final exam: 60% (2.5 hours).
 Tips:
o Case-intensive course; must know Article references by heart (esp. 138–151).
o Prepare early. Heavy reading required.
o Mr. Best asks questions during lectures; read beforehand.
o Classes are recorded for review.
o Build study groups for discussion and debate.
 Key areas:
o Supremacy of Constitution (Article 8).
o Judicial review (Article 153).
o Independence of judiciary (Articles 122, 144).
o Fundamental rights (Articles 138–151).

Group Submissions
 Ms. Woolford prefers to see content and case laws in assignments; doing so almost
guarantees an A.
 Other lecturers may have different expectations- important to attend tutorials to
understand what each lecturer values.
 Tailor submissions to each lecturer’s preferences.

Communication & Group Work

 Communication must be structured and clear.
 Some students naturally assume leadership, but leadership also requires listening to group
members.
 Assign responsibilities:
 o Two persons should be assigned for editing.
o Everyone must remain accountable for their tasks.
o If someone fails to contribute, their name should not be placed on the final
submission.
 Vet group work carefully:
o Don’t accept unverified content (e.g., blindly pasted from ChatGPT).
o Quality control is essential.
 Collaboration requires balance: do not dominate the group; ensure input from all
members.
 Communication and collaboration are key professional skills.

Exams & Grading

 Attendance at all activities is important.
 Build familiarity with your materials and with classmates.
 Grading scheme:
o 70%+ = A.
 Preparation:
o Begin studying immediately; create a study schedule/timetable.
o Read the cases in depth, focusing on principles.
o Link principles to the cases that establish them.
o Use the IRAC method (Issue, Rule, Application/Analysis, Conclusion).

Essay Questions

 Usually prompt-based.
 Require legal reasoning and critical analysis.
 Similar to IRAC but issue is presented in statement form.

Tutorials & Assessments

 Attempt all tutorial questions.
 Read answers to lecturers and note feedback.
 Revise answers based on feedback.
 Referencing:
o Everything must be backed by an authority (case, statute, article).
o Without authority, it is considered opinion.
 Caribbean Civilization: every paragraph in written assignments must have references.
 For tests:
o Use cases in law courses.
o Do not use cases in non-law courses like Caribbean Civilization.
Study Practices & Resources
 Read and study consistently; there is no shortcut.
 Put effort into every assignment.
 Participate in events, symposiums, and guest lectures.
 Research Tools:
o Megalink: main resource hub.
o Ministry of Legal Affairs (Guyana): laws and statutes (most reliable source).
o UG V-Lex & Lexis Nexis: access full cases (logins distributed via class reps).
o Read entire cases, not just summaries.
 ChatGPT is not a valid source. Use cases, textbooks, and academic articles.
 For Science, Medicine & Technology (SMT): academic articles required.

Professional & Social Awareness

 Law is not your entire life. Be aware of yourself and others.
 Distinguish between associates and friends; not everyone will like you.
 Be confident but humble.
 Assert your perspective while respecting others.
 Networking is critical: in law, everyone knows everyone (judges, lawyers, colleagues).
 Build cordial professional relationships.
 Avoid self-doubt: you belong here. Many did not make it this far.

Personal Development
 Strategize how you study- learn your strengths early.
 Don’t just read; learn to apply information.
 Recognize when you are overwhelmed and seek help.
 Spiritual guidance is important; pray and ask for support.
 Failures can reveal your influence and growth areas.
 Balance academics with spirituality and personal well-being.
 Consistency, humility, and effort are crucial.
 Rest is essential to sustain performance.

Study Habits & Routine

 After work, many students dedicate evenings to UG for study.
 If you want success, be prepared to make sacrifices.
  Form dependable friendships for support.
 Take detailed notes and share/exchange them.
 Many courses are exam-based. Stay exam-focused.
 Group grades = your grade; choose groups wisely.
 Treat assessments as real-world simulations.

Student Leadership & Societies

University of Guyana Law Society

 Provides networking, fellowship, and professional development.

 Leadership roles: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Year Rep.
 Pinning Ceremony:
o Pin symbolizes belonging and responsibility.
o Costs $4000 (purchased at/after the event)*
o Formal event
o Includes awards (Best Dressed, Best Male/Female Law Student).

Moot Court Guyana

 Organized and highly respected student society.

 Activities: mock court proceedings, debates, competitions, fundraisers.
 Prepares students for local and international mooting.
 Promotes advocacy as a lawyer’s duty.
 Provides opportunities to engage with practicing lawyers, judges, and institutions.
 Upcoming activities:
o International Law Debate Competition.
o Advocacy workshops.
o Aubrey Bishop Mooting Competition.
o Tort Mooting Competition (20th & 27th).
o Christmas fundraiser (20th Dec).

Lex Communiqué

 Official newsletter of UG Law Society.

 Instagram: @lex_communique (registration link in bio).