Mamadou Saidou Bah | Sare Gubu village, Sandu District, Upper River Region, The Gambia.

 I completed a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) at the Faculty of Law, University of The Gambia in 2017. After completing my degree, I enrolled at a postgraduate program at the Gambia Law School called the Bar Professional Training Course. I completed the program and called to The Gambia Bar in 2019 and enrolled as a Legal Practitioner in The Gambia in November 2020.

Previous experience

I am presently a Senior Legal Researcher at the Court of Appeal of The Gambia and my duties include conducting extensive legal research for judges of the Court, analysing legal precedents and writing legal opinions. I am responsible for developing the subject matter index of the judgments of the Court of Appeal which is essential for ease of reference and research for judges, lawyers and general court users. I also go to court to witness court proceedings.

In addition, I served as a Legal Researcher at the High Court of The Gambia from February 2019 to February 2023. I supported my Chambers with various administrative tasks, whilst remaining focus on conducting legal research, drafting judgments, rulings and orders. I also used to attend court proceedings and supervised the daily management of the Chambers by providing legal and administrative support to the other personnel in Chambers.

I served as a Legal Officer at Semega Chambers from October 2018 to February 2019. There, I provided legal advice/counselling to clients; prepared pleadings and written addresses; interviewed clients; prepared contracts and other legal documents.

Before I enrolled at the University of The Gambia, I served as a classroom teacher. I taught school pupils, prepared teaching and learning aids and assisted in the general administration of the schools. I have more than four years experience as a classroom teacher.

For my tertiary education, I attended The Gambia College where I was awarded the Primary Teachers’ Certificate (PTC) with “Distinction” in 2012. In 2013, I enrolled at the University of The Gambia and was awarded a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) in 2017 and I was ranked 3rd out of 72 students in my class. Importantly, I served as the Research Minister of the Law Students’ Association of my university in 2016.

Continuing, in October 2017, I enrolled at The Gambia Law School where I did the Bar Professional Training Course that enabled me to be called to the Gambia Bar in February 2019. Amusing, I was among the top six students of my class at the Gambia Law School and because of my exceptional performance at the Bar Final Exams; I was awarded the best student in Company Law and Commercial Practices at my Call to The Gambia Bar ceremony.

I got enrolled as a Legal Practitioner in The Gambia by the General Legal Council in November 2020. I have the ambition to serve as a Superior Court judge in my country one day.

Academic fields of interest:

Human Rights and International Criminal Justice

Position prior to the programme

Senior Legal Researcher, Judiciary of The Gambia