IN AN effort to encourage young men with an interest in the legal profession to fulfil their potential, a group of students at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus staged their first 'Men at Work' discussion session with fifth form and sixth form schoolboys and legal professionals last Friday.
"Our hope is simply to sow some seeds to give encouragement to you, so you can appreciate that you can accomplish anything in life," co-ordinator Jerome Spencer told the group.
"There is a serious problem with the boys in our society," fellow co-ordinator, Philmore Scott, stated in his opening remarks, noting the continued lack of young successful males in academic and professional circles. "We want to bridge this gap; it spells distress for our society."
The forum featured addresses from two eminent lawyers and UWI lecturers, Clyde Williams and Ian Wilkinson, who described what it takes to be successful in law and outlined what it takes to be a responsible man in today's world.
"My charge to you is to try and fulfil your potential, don't be sidetracked by material stuff," Mr. Wilkinson told the young men. "Look after your health and look after those around you. When you become fathers, stop the rot, become good fathers. Be a good father, even when you don't feel like being a good father."
"Be fearless in anything you do," he said. "Be focused, you cannot achieve anything unless you set out in your mind what you want to achieve. If you are not organised, you are not going to succeed."
According to Mr. Wilkinson, a good lawyer has to be resilient, innovative and solid. "People criticise lawyers in society, but people still have the greatest respect for lawyers. Law runs everything, law governs society, without law society cannot exist."
These were arguments bolstered by a focused delivery from Mr. Williams, who urged the young hopefuls to take a keen interest in civil society. "The more you know about 'runnings', the better able you are," he said. "Don't become isolated from the rest of society. You need to have commitment."
