Last week Truman Bodden Law School students Thomas Peter Hoogaars (far left) and Nyasha Tapiwa Muhlanga (right) and Dena’e Solang’e-Dyer Alexander (far right) travelled with Truman Bodden Law School Assistant Director Andrew Perkins (left) to Nova South Eastern University in Ft Lauderdale to take part in the American Caribbean Law Initiative Moot. Tommy, Nyasha and Dena’e earned this opportunity by participating in the TBLS internal mooting competition in 2022.
The American Caribbean Law Initiative facilitates a collaborative relationship between legal institutions in the Caribbean and the United States and seeks to strengthen and develop legal relationships and give law students the opportunity to work collaboratively on legal problems. Tommy, Nyasha and Dena’e worked with students from the Hugh Wooding, Norman Manley, Eugene Dupuch, Nova Southeastern and Florida International University Schools of Law before presenting arguments to Justices and Members of the Florida Bar. Andrew Perkins noted that the TBLS were praised by the Justices and Attorneys for their thoughtful, well-reasoned and accurate submissions. Such feedback further confirms the Truman Bodden Law School’s position as a leading legal education provider in the region.
Speaking of the experience Tommy stated that ‘representing TBLS at the ACLI Moot Competition was a fantastic opportunity to test our advocacy skills against other law students from the Caribbean and the United States. The competition affirmed the quality of legal education that TBLS provides its students with as was evidenced by the positive feedback that we received from judges on the level of our advocacy skills.’
Nyasha thought that ‘representing Team TBLS in the American and Caribbean Law Initiative was an invaluable experience. It allowed me to refine my advocacy skills and learn about American Federal Maritime Law. I worked in a team with future attorneys from America, Trinidad, Jamaica, British Virgin Islands and Guyana. This has improved my collaborative skills which I believe are essential skills for my future as a lawyer.‘
Dena’e found that ‘getting the opportunity to participate in the ACLI has altered the way I view the law. Being surrounded by a group of exceptional law students and professors from around the Caribbean and Florida was a great learning experience on how similar as well as unique our legal systems are. It was an amazing opportunity to learn from our neighbours’.
TBLS congratulates Dena’e, Tommy and Nyasha on their accomplishments and for representing Truman Bodden Law School so proudly at this event. TBLS also passes their thanks to the Portfolio of Legal Affairs for making this experience possible.