But then if you have to make one student pass the BVC each year, what is the use of running the course itself? Compared to the situation in England where the pass rate for students taking the BVTC each brushes the 90%, there is something wrong and lacking in our system which itself consists of the remnants of the English Legal System which dates back to the colonial period. We haven't changed much since!
The New Bill due to be presented at the National Assembly (can be found @: http://www.gov.mu/portal/goc/assemblysite/file/bill0911.pdf or http://www.gov.mu/portal/goc/assemblysite/file/bill0911.pdf) brings into the issue a new institution (Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies) that will be responsible for the issuing of authorisation to conduct the BVC. There will be an overhaul of the Course itself to add new subjects such as Legal Drafting, Conferencing, Opinion Writing, etc. Also, students holding a professional qualification (BVC) from countries forming part of the Commonwealth will be eligible for admission at the Bar. It also includes those who have obtained their professional qualification form the United States of America.
Despite these proposed changes, I am still doubtful of the manner in which the exams will be conducted, as to who will be the examiners and whether the results in its totality with marks for each subject will be published for public disclosure/scrutiny and in order to ensure transparency or it will still be the same.
Having completed my LLB(Hons) with all those questions on my mind, I am eagerly waiting for the amendments to be passed to see the results in order to better plan my career and I think that it is also the case for all my friends of the 2008-2011 LLB(Hons) class as well as who have attempted the BVC before. Hopefully, it will be done before November as we have to pay the fees for the BVC as from the 3rd of December.
But for now, let us enjoy our holidays which I hope will not become permanent!
Below is a list of all Commonwealth Countries:
| Country Name | Date of Joining |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 1 November 1981 |
| Australia | 11 December 1931 |
| Bahamas | 10 July 1973 |
| Bangladesh | 18 April 1972 |
| Barbados | 30 November 1966 |
| Belize | 21 September 1981 |
| Botswana | 30 September 1966 |
| Brunei | 1 January 1984 |
| Cameroon | 13 November 1995 |
| Canada | 11 December 1931 |
| Cyprus | 13 March 1961 |
| Dominica | 3 November 1978 |
| Gambia | 18 February 1965 |
| Ghana | 6 March 1957 |
| Grenada | 7 February 1974 |
| Guyana | 26 May 1966 |
| India | 15 August 1947 |
| Jamaica | 6 August 1962 |
| Kenya | 12 December 1963 |
| Kiribati | 12 July 1979 |
| Lesotho | 4 October 1966 |
| Malawi | 6 July 1964 |
| Malaysia | 16 September 1963 |
| Maldives | 9 July 1982 |
| Malta | 21 September 1964 |
| Mauritius | 12 March 1968 |
| Mozambique | 13 November 1995 |
| Namibia | 21 March 1990 |
| Nauru | 1 November 1968 |
| New Zealand | 11 December 1931 |
| Nigeria | 1 October 1960 |
| Pakistan | 14 August 1947 |
| Papua New Guinea | 16 September 1975 |
| Rwanda | 29 November 2009 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 19 September 1983 |
| Saint Lucia | 22 February 1979 |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 27 October 1979 |
| Samoa | 28 August 1970 |
| Seychelles | 29 June 1976 |
| Sierra Leone | 27 April 1961 |
| Singapore | †15 October 1965 |
| Solomon Islands | 7 July 1978 |
| South Africa | 11 December 1931 |
| Sri Lanka | 4 February 1948 |
| Swaziland | 6 September 1968 |
| Tanzania | 26 April 1964 |
| Tonga | 4 June 1970 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 31 August 1962 |
| Tuvalu | 1 October 1978 |
| Uganda | 9 October 1962 |
| United Kingdom | 11 December 1931 |
| Vanuatu | 30 July 1980 |
| Zambia | 24 October 1964 |
| Fiji | 10 October 1970 |
| Ireland | 11 December 1931 |
| Zimbabwe | 1 October 1980 |
From: http://www.list4everything.com/list-of-commonwealth-nations.html
Fiat Lux,
THE INSTITUTE FOR JUDICIAL AND LEGAL STUDIES BILL (No. IX of 2011)
ReplyDeleteThe object of this Bill is to provide for the establishment of an Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies for the purpose of promoting proficiency and ensuring the maintenance of standards in the Judiciary and among law practitioners and legal officers with a view to enhancing the justice system, in line with the recommendation of the Presidential Commission set up in 1997 to examine and report upon the structure and operation of the judicial system and legal professions of Mauritius.
The Bill provides for the creation of the Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies (“the Institute”) . The objects of the Institute include promoting proficiency and ensuring the maintenance of standards in the Judiciary, among law practitioners and legal officers, and generally in the delivery of Court services, and fostering continuing judicial and legal education.
The Institute will be managed by the Judicial and Legal Studies Board (“the Board”).
Status: Second Reading, Committee Stage and Third Reading on 24 May 2011. Not yet enacted.
THE LAW PRACTITIONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL (No. X of 2011)
ReplyDeleteThe main object of this Bill is to amend the Law Practitioners Act, in line with certain recommendations of the Presidential Commission set up in 1997 to examine and report upon the structure and operation of the judicial system and legal professions of Mauritius.
The Bill provides for the establishment of a Council for Vocational Legal Education (“the Council”). The Council shall, inter alia, be responsible for the granting of an authorisation to run a vocational course.
The Institute shall devise, organise and conduct Continuing Professional Development Programmes for each of the three branches of the legal profession. The Continuing Professional Development Programmes are meant to broaden the knowledge of law practitioners and legal officers, keeping them abreast of developments in the law, and to encourage them to share experiences and enhance their professional skills.
Unless a law practitioner is excused by the Chief Justice for reasons such as proven ability and experience, age, ill health or unavoidable professional commitments, the law practitioner and a legal officer must, in every year, follow a Continuing Professional Development Programme.
Status: Second Reading, Committee Stage and Third Reading on 24 May 2011. Not yet enacted.
Salut Sandeep, c'est Chris, ce serait sympa si tu pouvais mettre la nouvelle Law Practitioners Act sur ton blog.
ReplyDelete