Law continues to be the highly favoured career which a vast number of students are determined to pursue.

Despite the challenges associated with that career choice, such as the perceived glut in the country, the difficulty to gain entry into some training institutions and the high costs, becoming a lawyer continues to be the first option rolling off the tongues of several individuals when quizzed about their career preference.

Based on a visit to several schools in the Corporate Area and St Catherine, from a sample of 402 students sitting the arts in Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination, 198 intend to opt for law as a career.

From the survey, the main reasons are clear-cut. It is to contribute to a change in the justice system. But it is also due to the fact that it is perceived to be a lucrative venture to pursue.

What students say

A whopping 60 per cent of the students said they have an interest in law because they believed that justice must be served and that everyone should be treated equally. Thirty students said they were enthused about Jamaica's legal system. As persons who loved to be in the know, it was necessary for them to learn about such an important arm of governance in the country. Forty indicated that they were 'enticed' by the profession, while 50 were eager to assist in the process of ensuring that justice is served in the country. Five persons wanted to continue a family trend.

Most of the students gave more than one reason for wanting to enter the legal profession. In fact, 55 per cent of them regarded it as a prestigious profession with which they would love to be associated.

However, first deputy head girl at Holy Childhood High, Danielle Effs, said her interest in law has been affected by the high cost to pursue it at university.

"It's too expensive to study at tertiary level, and the Government does not fully facilitate students who would like to take up law as a career but who are not rich," she noted.

Unfulfilled dream

Due to the lack of sufficient funding, Effs said she might have to seek a less-expensive course of study, even though it may prevent her from fulfilling her dreams to the fullest. It may also mean that she will be denied the opportunity of being a part of a system that gives each person the right to be heard, judged and sentenced fairly.

Delmar Francis of Jamaica College also included the high cost as one of the challenges to pursue law. He said in addition to tuition fees, the cost of books was overwhelming.

The teen also spoke about the difficulty to get admitted in the learning facility to carry on the tertiary studies.

"You have to be determined or else you will give up when you are taking the law path. It's really a difficult task to get through on your first application," he argued.