Bishop’s High School ‘old boy’ Arun Gajraj joined two relatives when he was recently admitted to the bar.
Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran presented Gajraj’s petition before Chief Justice Carl Singh at the High Court.
Gajraj was born in Campbellville to Patrick and Carmen Gajraj. He attended the St Winifried’s Primary School and won a place at Bishops’, later gaining seven passes at the Caribbean Examinations Council exams. He also secured two passes at the Advanced Level (‘A’ Level) exams. Gajraj’s scholastic achievements were then boosted by a pass, with honours, from the University of Guyana’s LLB programme in 2005. He obtained his Legal Education Certificate at the Hugh Wooding Law School recently.
Ramkarran said Gajraj is well equipped to embark on a career in law with support from his family including former home affairs minister Ronald Gajraj and Harrichand Mahadeo who are both attorneys.
The Chief Justice urged Gajraj not to be burdened by the obligations and to look at them as challenges that are exciting and new. He also encouraged the young lawyer to keep abreast of his legal education and advised him that the “law is a jealous mistress” and in order to be successful “you must burn the midnight oil.”
In his address Gajraj said he first developed an appreciation for law during his ‘A’ Level studies and was eager to pursue it as a profession. Since that time he said the journey was sometimes rough and professors Hart, Devlin and Lord Lloyd of Hamstead gave him “sleepless nights.” Gajraj said he is grateful to his lecturers and professors particularly Professor Aubrey Bishop, Magistrate Michelle Maharajh Browne and Martha Des Vignes of Trinidad and Tobago. He also thanked his mother for her unswerving support and encouragement, his father for his guidance and advice and other relatives, friends and colleagues for their support.