New attorney Ismat Bacchus intends to specialise in investment law and foreign policy 

It was a proud but bittersweet moment for Ismat Bacchus as she was admitted to the bar to practice law in Guyana Friday. Her father died just before she began her studies two years ago.

Bacchus’ admission comes days after she graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad and Tobago which she attended virtually.

By completing her studies, which included a distinction from the University of Guyana’s Bachelor of Laws Programme, she believes she has brought great pride to her father and the rest of her family.

Bacchus’ petition was presented before Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George S.C. by Attorney-At-Law Kamal Ramkarran.

After her bar call, she told reporters that she intends to pursue her Masters in Investment Law and Foreign Policy.

“I am moving forward in my career with eagerness and determination to make my mark not only on the legal profession, but to expand on that and actually get involved in areas outside of law by getting into government and taking up my master’s soon in investment law and foreign policy,” Bacchus told reporters.

Although her father, Imtiaz Bacchus, who encouraged her was no longer with her during her studies, she persevered and pushed through difficulties with online classes, she said.

“Studying definitely was difficult. Two years of online study, it’s not easy, but we made it here and I’m very proud,”

“My dad – he would have passed away when I was in my final year of the LLB programme and definitely that impacted me tremendously to say that I spent many nights, you know, wondering how different it would have been if he had been near to support me,” she said.

Bacchus added: “I’m just grateful that I was able to do it nevertheless in the way that I did. I’m sure that he’s proud.”