The Council of Legal Education
About The CLE
Our Foundation
Background
The Council has been in existence for over 50 years and was established to provide a common system of professional legal education for the Commonwealth Caribbean. Through its three law schools, it promotes consistent standards of professional legal education while preparing graduates for admission to legal practice across participating jurisdictions.
- Over 50 years
- Three law schools
- Commonwealth Caribbean
- Professional legal education
Regional Representation
The Council
Pursuant to Article 1(a) of the Agreement Establishing the Council of Legal Education, the Council comprises representatives of:
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Attorneys General of participating Governments
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Heads of the Judiciary of participating territories
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The legal profession, represented through the relevant professional bodies
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The Dean of the Faculty of Law of The University of the West Indies and a nominee
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The Principals of the Council's three law schools
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Chair of the Council
One Regional System
Three Law Schools. One Regional System.
The Council delivers professional legal education for the Commonwealth Caribbean, through three law schools:
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Council of Legal EducationNorman Manley Law School – Jamaica
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Council of Legal EducationHugh Wooding Law School – Trinidad and Tobago
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Council of Legal EducationEugene Dupuch Law School – The Bahamas
The Council’s three law schools serve the Commonwealth Caribbean.
Our Direction
Mission and Vision
Council of Legal Education Mission Statement
“To facilitate the development of competent legal practitioners for the Region who, appreciating their responsibility as members of an honourable profession and recognizing the needs of their socio-economic environment, are inspired in the pursuit of excellence, the maintenance of high ethical standards, the promotion of social justice and the strengthening of the rule of law.”
Council of Legal Education Vision Statement
“To be a world leader in higher education through innovation, creativity and relevance in the system of practical legal education that is rooted in our history as Caribbean people and is designed to enhance the practice of law and the jurisprudence of the Caribbean, to empower our people; and develop our societies throughout the 21st Century.”
Our History
Milestones
More than five decades of regional collaboration in professional legal education.
Our Commitment
CLE Quality Policy Statement
Legal Education and Training
“It is the policy of the Council of Legal Education to provide legal education and training that is internationally competitive – producing highly capable and motivated graduates who are equipped to meet the challenges of the legal profession in the 21st century and beyond.”
Continuing Professional Education
“The Council is further committed to developing a reputation for the high quality of its programmes and continuing professional education that allows regional practitioners to keep abreast of developments in the profession and develop new skills in fields of emerging importance.”
Design and Delivery
“In achieving these objectives, we will utilize a variety of design and delivery mechanisms and collaborate with other institutions to ensure that these programmes are world-class, intellectually stimulating and challenging and relevant to the needs of practitioners at all stages of their careers.”
Implementation
“This policy shall be implemented and be the guiding force behind each institution of the Council of Legal Education. It shall be distributed and made known to each employee of the Council who shall be required to commit themselves to achievement of objectives and shall be able to contribute to its continuous review and modification through periodic consultation.”
Leadership
Council Chairman
At its Annual Meeting held in September 2025, the Council of Legal Education re-elected Ms Liesel Weekes as Chair for the 2025-2027 term.
A Trinidad and Tobago-born Attorney-at-Law admitted to practice in both Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados since 1998, Ms Weekes is a senior member of Aegis Chambers Attorneys-at-Law in Barbados.
She has held several leadership positions within the Caribbean legal profession, including President of the Barbados Bar Association and President of the Organisation of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations (OCCBA). She has served as Barbados' representative on the Council of Legal Education since 2016.