Guyanese Rea Harris is the valedictorian of the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) class of 2023, and she will be graduating on Saturday with other top honours.
Harris told the News Room that she also copped the Mediation Board of Trinidad & Tobago Prize for Excellence in Mediation Studies, the Book Specialists Prize for Best Overall Performance – Academic and Extracurricular Activities – and the Book Specialists Prize for Second Outstanding Year II Student.
“I am deeply grateful and honoured to be selected as the valedictorian. In no way, shape or form did I expect it but I was elated to receive the call from the Registrar of the Law School.
“It is, for me, a representation of how hard work, persistence and consistency pay off in the long run,” Harris said.
Importantly, Harris did her Bachelor’s Degree in Law at the University of Guyana. She graduated with a 3.8 Grade Point Average (GPA) and graduated as the best graduating Law student for 2022, earning the Pro Chancellor’s Award.
Harris is currently working at the Gunraj & Co law firm, under the guidance and mentorship of Attorney-at-Law Sase Gunraj. Though she only just completed HWLS, Harris is currently reading for her Master of Laws at the University of Edinburgh.
She explained that her desire to know more about the law and legal system in Guyana and, by extension, the Commonwealth Caribbean has featured prominently throughout her studies.
Harris also believes that she can use her legal knowledge as a tool to help others. Given Guyana’s growth trajectory, she is sure she can help develop the nation.
Harris will be admitted to the local bar to practice law next week.
