By Vanessa Namukwaya
It’s stated that 80% of the students that enroll in universities for a Bachelor of Laws look forward to joining the Law Development Centre (LDC) after attaining their undergraduate degree. LDC provides legal education to lawyers giving those who pass the exams, a post diploma in legal practice. Without acquiring that diploma, one cannot become an advocate in the Ugandan courts of law
For Jussy Atuhaire who graduated from the School of Law at Uganda Christian University, completing the diploma came with double joy.
Not only did she pass the rigorous course, she also emerged as the best student in Corporate and Commercial Practice.
“I was not expecting it. I was literally heading home after graduating then my name was read as the best student in Corporate and Commercial Practice. This is the most valuable and admirable thing that l have attained in my academic journey,” Atuhaire said. She now looks forward to joining a firm that deals in corporate and commercial practice.
Atuhaire says when she was joining LDC, a lot was on her mind because of what was said about it.
“When l was joining, l had bad energy from different people, claims that LDC is a difficult space, and that one should have it in their mind that you will either fail or pass. But upon my joining I had a positive mind that I’m going to pass,” she said. She then dedicated the nine months to concentrating on studying which prompted her to choose Mbarara campus away from friends and family so that she could focus.
Atuhaire teamed up with her friend and roommate, Rachel Katusime, and they formed a discussion group.
“We would make sure that each one of us reads a topic then later in the day we discuss,” she recalls. She goes on to share that being at LDC basically means doing the right thing at the right time because every week comes with its own workload and workshops. “I would time myself to reading cases on the reading list which prepared me for the individual weekly assessments.
It was not a bed of roses, as she failed to balance her social life away from studies. Writing notes was also difficult for her. “When we were at campus, we never used to write notes so it became a bit difficult to adapt,” she says, adding, “But being in LDC enabled me to learn to work under pressure and be a good time manager.
Atuhaire started her education at Ronald Ruta Primary School then went on to Kyeizooba Girls’ Secondary School for her O-level. Thereafter she joined St Joseph of Nazareth High School where she says she was the best student in A-level. She later joined Uganda Christian University Mukono where she did her Bachelors of Laws and attained a second class upper degree, after which she joined LDC.
Atuhaire who now looks forward to joining a firm that deals in corporate and commercial practice advises students to work really hard to achieve their goals.
