AT 23, Attorney-at-Law Ornise Gordon is on a mission to provide much-needed legal services to the poor and vulnerable as she kick-starts her career at the Linden Legal Aid Centre in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

Gordon – daughter of the former Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairman of the Linden Town Council, Orrin Gordon — was admitted to the Bar on Tuesday by Justice Simone Ramlall after a petition was placed before the High Court by Attorney Mayo Robertson.
Before a room filled with relatives and friends, who from all indications were glowing with excitement, Robertson rose and petitioned the High Court for the young Lindener to be admitted to the Bar.
Gordon was presented with her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) shortly after completing her studies at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year. Prior to that she had obtained her Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B.) at the University of Guyana (UG).

Gordon attended the Mackenzie High School from 2005-2012, during which time she wrote 11 subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations and six subjects at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), achieving passes in all subjects.

In 2015 and 2016, Gordon completed internship at the Linden Legal Aid Centre, Attorney Robertson detailed while bringing to the court’s attention that his cousin’s decision to give back to her hometown was done with the people in mind.
At the Linden Legal Aid Centre, he said Gordon, in offering her legal services, would defend the poor and powerless in their pursuit of justice. He told Justice Ramlall that he has advised Gordon to be respectful of the Bench, stating that “when a judge moves in your favour, it is always thanks your honour,” and the same applies when the judgment is not favourable.

For Robertson, he has no doubt that his cousin would live up to the high standards of the Court, as he referenced her reputable family background.

Justice Ramlall, in offering congratulatory remarks, said Gordon is no stranger to her. Gordon and Justice Ramlall are alumni from the same alma mater. Additionally, Justice Ramlall recalled that Gordon’s mother Denise taught her and she holds her in high esteem. Gordon is also a friend of Ramlall’s daughter.
“So this is a special occasion for me too,” the judge told those present. While advising her to uphold the ethnics of the profession, Justice Ramlall told Gordon that she must take responsibility.

Stating that the first two years in practice are the most critical, Justice Ramlall further advised the young attorney to cultivate and build a good reputation and then safeguard it, warning that small errors can be problematic and even fatal.
But when all was said and done, the High Court judge made it clear that she has no reason to doubt Gordon’s ability to live up to the obligations bestowed upon her.
In offering her response, the young attorney said the journey from UG to the Hugh Wooding Law School was not without challenges, but “God” carried her through.
In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Gordon said “it was challenging for the most part. It was a lot of work, a lot of studying, late nights, early mornings.”
She added: “I would always tell people that it was my faith in God that kept me, because sometimes you can feel a bit overwhelmed, and for me personally I felt burdened sometimes, but at the end of the day, I just prayed, did the work, and God did the rest for me.”

Gordon also used the opportunity to express appreciation to her parents, relatives and friends who offered their assistance in one way or another to ensure she was successful in her studies. Asked why the Linden Legal Aid Centre, Gordon said, “Well I believe in service of others. As a Christian I believe that you should help others and mainly I wanted to use my career to help others, and I also wanted to stay in Linden.”
She pointed out that many of the people accessing the services of the Legal Aid Centre cannot afford legal services on their own.
To aspiring lawyers, she said “work hard, study hard and keep God in the centre of your life.”