The Editor, Sir:

As a former Clerk of Court, I must say that the Ministry of Justice needs to look into the issues affecting the Clerks of Court, which will in turn affect how the system functions. It is seen by many who leave law school that the Resident Magistrate's Court is a training ground for young attorneys, but after being a Clerk for about six months, some leave for greener pastures.

I will reveal about three issues that lead to this:

1. Studying law and practising are two different things, and you cannot get a fresh attorney to prosecute without giving them the necessary training for the job. Oftentimes they hire you today and throw you in court the same day. That is absurd. How can you expect an untrained person to go against Q.C.s and senior attorneys and do the job properly? We are left to sink or swim, and what happens is that after a few trials and errors, you learn the work.

2. The training you get on the job is from Deputy Clerks, who are not attorneys' but whom have been in the system for years and can share what they know from a practical point of view.

3. There is no current legislation for the clerks to work with. We have to call our colleagues to get information.

4. We are not treated as attorneys but like buyers in a fish market, in and out of court. Can you imagine being in a courtroom full of persons - the public which expects a lot from the prosecutor 'their lawyer' - only to hear the judge shouting and carrying on with the prosecutor?

5. The Ministryof Justice treats their Clerks by using the phrase 'lawyers are a dime a dozen,' whereas other Government agencies treat us as professionals. If the Ministry of Justice continues, then they will have more attorneys leaving in droves for greener pastures.

I am, etc.,

WENDY

w_llb@yahoo.com

Brooklyn, New York

Via Go-Jamaica