MONROVIA – Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law Students Association has received 500 pieces of books on the Decent Work Act from the Ministry of Labor. 

The donation was done on Wednesday at the main campus of the University of Liberia on Capitol Hill.

The donation to the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law follows two separate donations at the Temple of Justice and the Liberia Bar Association.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Labor Cllr. Charles H. Gibson said the books on the decent work act will strengthen legal practitioners.

According to the Labor Minister, his entity is concerned about two jurisprudence. One, the Minister of Labor says is the labor regime and the other he says is the human trafficking regime.

As Minister of Labor, he says he is responsible for the rights of employees in and around the country.

“The lawyers that go to the labor court on behalf of complainants are in essence providing pro bono service. And if the complainants are not fully represented, some of these weaknesses derive from not being famous with the labor law,” he said.

Cllr. Gibson added: “So, these books will strengthen the capacity of law. It’s so small that you can’t forget about it. You can just throw it in your pocket.”

The Minister narrated that during his study and practice of law, labor law was not his preference. .

“You see, when I was appointed as Minister of Labor for one whole year, I traveled with my law book. Every time I am in my car, I will be reading it because I did not practice enough. This book will guide you,” he said. 

Also, Williamina Gbardee Elious Budy is the president of the Law School Students Association (LAWSA) at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law.

She praised the Ministry of Labor for its gesture adding that as Law students they will serve as a guide for all of them.

“We are grateful that you have brought us these books. I can assure you that we will use these books as our pocketbooks and authenticate everything that is in it,” Madam Budy said.

We want to thank you Minister Gibson in a very special way. You have taken out your time -you did not send in your project team but you came because this school is your alma mater and you are now giving back to the school.

At the event, Madam Budy disclosed what she termed as a multi-purple palava project her leadership is undertaking and asked that she looks forward to the Minister of Labor for his contribution. 

MONROVIA – The Dean of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu, has called on the government of Liberia to initiate a step-by-step process of absentee voting for Liberians who are out of Liberia to partake in the electoral process by voting from their respective diaspora destinations.

By Francis G. Boayue, FPA Staff Reporter

Cllr. Barbu made the remarks on Thursday, at the sixth edition of the Institute for Constitutional Research, Policy, and Strategic Development (ICRPSD) roundtable discussion on the topic: “Can I vote in 2023 Elections While out of Liberia as a citizen?”

Speaking to over 20 people including lawyers, lawmakers, and representatives of the All-Liberian Conference on dual citizenship, Cllr. Barbu noted that, for government to deprive its citizens of the right to enjoy choosing who should lead them on the basis of lack of resources is absolutely improper and unconstitutional.

According to him, a step-by-step process of absentee voting will send a message as a substantial step towards correcting a problem which he believes, the government including the Legislature should do.

Cllr. Barbu maintained in his presentation: “The constitutional right to vote in absentia, guarantee for absentee in the Liberian constitution of January 6, 1985.”

He said 36 years ago, Liberians established a new constitution replacing the Constitution that had governed them since July 1847 (139 years).

Cllr. Barbu further said during the roundtable discussion, on the topic, “Does a citizen of the Republic of Liberia have the fundamental right to freely and fairly cast a ballot in any political election, irrespective of where he or she is at the time of election” was important as the country gears up for election.

He maintained that the constitution and preamble set the basis for the establishment of each provision of our Constitution.

He said it is clear in the constitution that there should not be any segregation between Liberians for any reason as citizens are constituents of one unit regardless of their history.

He then emphasized the need for the government to make laws that will unify citizens and not divide them, adding that more significantly the need to afford every Liberian justice and protection of their human rights including them voting as Liberians who are out of Liberia to partake in Liberia’s electoral processes ahead of 2023 Elections.

MONROVIA — The President of the University of Liberia (UL), Prof. Dr. Julius Julukon Sarwolo Nelson, Jr., officially welcomed to the University Cabinet the newly appointed Dean of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, Counselor Jallah A. Barbu, whom he appointed as Acting Dean on July 31, 2022, pending approval of the UL Board of Trustees.

Counsellor Barbu comes to the prestigious and respected deanship portfolio with years of experience in Law, including serving as a former chairperson of the Law Reform Commission.

At a UL Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, the UL President presented Dr. Barbu to his Cabinet colleagues.

He said the UL management team was glad that Cllr. Barbu accepted the request to serve as the new Dean. Dr. Nelson encouraged Cllr. Barbu to explore new and existing opportunities that will further improve the standards of the Law School.

“I want you to consider more opportunities for the Law School. This is an expectation I placed before you prior to receiving you today. I know that you have already started that exercise,” Dr. Nelson said.

The UL President also emphasised the need for Counsellor Barbu to strengthen the already existing partnership the Law School has with Indiana University, which has benefited the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law for many areas.

Dr. Nelson implored Dean Barbu to utilize his relationship with Indiana University, of which the Law School Dean is a graduate, to foster meaningful collaborations that will benefit the Law School.

“Indiana is a long-standing partner to the UL,” he said. “We are at the point where we want to renew and strengthen such [a] relationship again.

“So as an alumnus of Indiana, I am strategically placing you in that role so that our relationship with them will be rejuvenated,” Dr. Nelson urged.

Responding, Counselor Barbu expressed appreciation for the preferment to serve in the capacity as Dean of the Law School.

He acknowledged the huge responsibilities and expectations his new task entails.

Dr. Barbu assured the UL Administration of his preparedness to deliver and uphold the confidence reposed in him.

“I appreciate very much this wonderful opportunity to be able to serve the UL in this capacity,” Counselor Barbu said. “You all know fully well what I stand for and what I can do.”

He further pledged his willingness and commitment to maintain quality standards at the only law school in Liberia by working and supporting the students, faculty, and staff.

“It is for me not a challenge, but a blessing to contribute to our university and our country,” he said.

Regarding the UL Administration’s quest to foster relationships with institutions abroad, Counsellor Barbu said he has begun discussions with other institutions outside of Liberia for support for the Law School.

“The issue you raised with respect to building and strengthening the Law School and our relationship abroad, I have started that already by speaking with the Dean of Indiana University Law School for some of our faculty members to lecture via zoom, and online visual application,” Dean Barbu disclosed.

“We agreed that next semester our professors here can stand up in the classrooms via zoom to lecture as a way of strengthening that relationship, and they can do the same,” Counselor Barbu added.

Counsellor Barbu outlined the Moot Court project, research, faculty development, students’ support projects, and financial discipline as targeted areas in his action plan that he wants to implement as Dean of the Law School.

Counsellor Barbu is a legal scholar, author, and professor of law. He has practiced law for more than a decade at the Supreme Court of Liberia.

Speaking of Counsellor Barbu’s credential, President Nelson said the decision to name Counselor Barbu as Dean was based upon a strong recommendation from the legal community, including a recommendation from the Liberia National Bar Association.

As Dean, Counsellor Barbu will report to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

In this position, he is tasked to, among other things, carry out administrative supervision with direct responsibility for academics and operations. He is charged with the responsibilities of developing and transforming the curriculum of the Law School to meet local/regional demands as necessary while maintaining international academic standards, values and excellence, among others.

Counsellor Barbu has a rich and solid academic profile. He earned a Doctor of Juridical Science (Constitutional Law) from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America.

From August 2006 to July 2008, Counselor Barbu earned a Master of Laws (Thesis – Constitutional Law), from the Maurer School of Law, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America.

In 1997, he received his Bachelor of Laws (LLB), with honors, from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia.

And in 1990, he received his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting and Management as a Minor from the College of Business & Public Administration, University of Liberia.

Monrovia – A class size of 50 students (35 first-year plus 15 re-admitted) has been admitted to the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia, following a process of rigorous credential screening that included the administering of two entrance exams after 509 applications were received. 

The disclosure was made by Counselor T. Negabalee Warner, Dean of the Law School, at the end of an intensive week-long orientation for the in-coming first-year students on Friday, September 16, 2016, on the Capitol Hill campus of the University, where the school is located. 

“There were over 400 candidates that sat the two tests,” Dean Warner said.

“On the first test, there were more than 215 applicants and 25 persons passed, while the second test was taken by 170 students and only 10 passed for a combine total of 35; they, along with 15 readmitted students, were admitted this year.”

During the orientation, the students received what is referred to as their first “legal baptism” into case briefing–a tedious academic exercise that dissects a court’s opinion to the key elements and discusses its essence.

According to Dean Warner, the students were taught the basic elements of a case:  the facts of the case, the particular legal issue that is at question in the case, the specific legal rule of law that is applicable to the case, the application of that rule of law to the facts of the case, and then the court’s holding/conclusion.

“With the exception of the specific rule of law (which should almost always be quoted), the case brief should be a summary and paraphrasing of the court’s opinion in your own words,” said Dean Warner in one of the lecture sections. 

But what the class seems to lack in terms of numbers it makes up in terms of professional diversity.

In this class, which is expected to complete in 2019, there are several students with advanced degrees who occupy mid-level to senior positions in the private and public sectors.

Among them is an experienced law enforcement officer, a police forensic investigator, an Assistant Minister, two former lawmakers, a Deputy Minister, a politician who claims to have founded two political parties, a young anti-corruption advocate, a youth advocate, four pastors, oil and gas expert, and a magistrate, among others.

The class has five females all of whom are professionals in their respective organizations.

The class is also diverse in terms of the universities represented. Obviously, the majority of them are from University of Liberia, however, all universities in the country—with the exception of Tubman University, which is gradually building its alumni base—are represented at least by one graduate.

Similarly, the class has graduates from universities abroad, including the Universities of Ghana-Legon, Liverpool, Maryland, and Columbia.

The Law School’s enrollment has been declining since the ascendancy of current President Dr. Emmet A. Dennis, whose policy places premium on admitting quality students rather than having many students.

The last two classes had 44 and 60 first-year students each and this trend is expected to continue under the new Dean.  

In 2009, when President Dennis attended his first orientation, the class had nearly 100 first-year students. 

“You know when I walked in here few minutes ago; there was a stark difference between my first orientations as President in 2009. When I walked in here in 2009, this room was jammed parked.

And I won’t lie to you, I asked: ‘Are all these people needed? Does this group exemplify where we are going,’” Dr. Dennis recollected. 

Fast-forward to 2016, Dr Dennis, who has elected to retire once a new president is found, is leaving behind a different Law School than the one he inherited, and he says that pleases him very well.

This is what he said in July about the school: “Over the past six years, the institution has grown particular in quality.

The quality of the students admitted to the Law School now is by far better than a few years ago and that pleases me very much,” he said.

“The qualitative profile of the faculty has increased tremendously. Seven years ago, the Law School had just a few with an LLM Degree—something around four or five—now we have about 22.”

Besides urging a rigorous admissions process and increasing its faculty profile, Dr Dennis also found a new Dean to replace Counselor David A.B. Jallah, who served the school for 15 years and under whose administration some of the current policies begun.

The Law School also has several partnerships and relationships with other law schools abroad, including Indiana University, where many of the 22 Law Faculty were trained in the seven years Dr. Dennis has led the university, and Tilburg University, in the Netherlands, where he visited two weeks ago to renew a memorandum of understanding between the two institutions that could achieve many things for the UL Law School, including the possibility of awarding its Master’s Degree in Laws.

Among the 50 students admitted this term is Gerald Yeakula, 23, a graduate of the University of Liberia who described the week-long orientation as transformative.

“I feel honored to be part of this class. A challenge has been placed before us. The first week was a transformative experience,” Yeakula said.

“It took us from our world, the world we found ourselves in, to another world or profession. We saw things differently, and more importantly, we were urged to step up because we are going to a profession which is an important one and because of that certain pressure will come to bear on us.”