IT was a ‘bitter-sweet’ moment for 22-year-old Mohamed Muntaz Ali, when he was admitted to the local bar to practise law in Guyana.
His petition was presented by his aunt, attorney-at-law, Jamela Ali, to acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire at the Demerara High Court, on Tuesday, November 10, 2020. She presented the court with a brief biography of Mohamed.

Mohamed attended Graham’s Hall Primary School, where, after completing the National Grade Six Assessment, he secured a place at New Campbellville Secondary School.
Between the years 2014-2018, Mohamed attended the University of Guyana (UG) where he did pre-law subjects before going on to do a Bachelor of Law Degree (LLB) and graduating with credit.

After completing his LLB, he attended the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad and was awarded his Legal Education Certificate (LEC.) He also received a certificate from the Energy Law Specialist Clinic at HWLS.

Mohamed was also a general assistant to his aunt’s Jamela chambers during the summers of 2014 and 2017. His hobbies include playing tennis, painting and drawing.
Mohamed is the second of three children born to parents Mohamed Abdul Aziz Ali and his mother, Sunita Durgah. His father is retired while his mother is presently the headmistress of St Margaret’s Primary School in Georgetown.

His sister Janet Adeba Ali was admitted to the bar on October 24, 2019.
Coming from a family of lawyers from his paternal side, there are at least four generations of legal practitioners which include his grandfather, aunt, uncle, and cousins.
The newly-admitted attorney is the grandson of the late Muntaz Ali, who was a prominent attorney and also a lecturer at the HWLS.
Not forgetting attorney-at-law Mohammed Ravindra Ali, who is also his uncle and also his late great uncle W.D Dinally also known as Amir, who was the first Muslim solicitor in Guyana.
His cousins are attorney-at-law Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, who is the Director of Public Prosecutions and Elaine Khan, Barrister-at-law in the United Kingdom, who was formerly a Magistrate in England.

Attorney Jamela Ali, while presenting her nephew’s petition, described him as a hardworking and dedicated young man.
“I must say you have done exceedingly well academically. We are all happy and proud of you. You have added to the family of lawyers. I can only add and hope that you will communicate, make the right decisions, always be filled with gratitude as you embark on your chosen career to the land of success and achievements. As you pursue your legal career, you will find those qualities will serve you well, together with hard work, research of legal issues and respect to all,” the prominent attorney told Mohamed in court.
The Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire welcomed Mohamed to the bar and urged him to commit to the hard work that success entails and to commit to conducting thorough research to serve his clients and the citizens of this nation.

Mohamed explained that his mother and father and other family members always encouraged him to do well.
“My journey should be an inspiration to other youths. I did not attend a top secondary school. I started my journey at the New Campbellville Secondary School, but I did not allow that to lower me in the pursuit of my academic goals,” the newly-appointed lawyer said.