In a landmark ceremony at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain on November 18, distinguished attorney Israel Khan SC was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree by the University of Trinidad and Tobago. President Christine Kangaloo presided over the graduation event, bestowing this rare academic honor upon one of the nation’s most formidable legal minds.
This recognition marks an unprecedented moment in Trinidad and Tobago’s legal history, as Khan becomes the first practicing criminal advocate to receive such an honor from the university. The announcement generated immense pride among members of Justitia Omnibus Law Chambers, which Khan has led since establishing the practice in 1979 following his graduation from Hugh Wooding Law School.
Khan’s legal career spans over four and a half decades of exceptional service. Appointed Senior Counsel in 2000, he maintains an extensive practice across Caribbean regional courts and holds placement on the International Criminal Court’s Registry of Defence Counsel in The Hague. He currently presides as president of the Criminal Bar Association of Trinidad and Tobago.
Beyond his courtroom achievements, Khan has shaped generations of legal professionals through his 38-year tenure as senior associate tutor at Hugh Wooding Law School. His mentorship philosophy emphasizes empowerment, encouraging students to challenge systemic injustices while adhering to principles of fairness and advocacy for the marginalized.
Khan’s distinctive contribution to Caribbean jurisprudence lies in his principled defiance of colonial legal traditions. He has pioneered an advocacy style rooted in Caribbean reality, making complex legal concepts accessible to ordinary citizens while maintaining formidable intellectual rigor. His approach has influenced countless criminal advocates to embrace cultural identity within legal practice, ensuring justice remains both comprehensible and attainable for all segments of society.
The honorary degree adds to Khan’s recent recognitions, including his 2024 designation as one of Hugh Wooding Law School’s seven most distinguished graduates over its 50-year history. His nomination for consideration as Trinidad and Tobago’s seventh president by the parliamentary opposition in March 2023 further underscores his standing as a national figure of exceptional repute.