ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, 1st June, 2012
Mr. David Lloyd, Deputy Leader, Hertfordshire County Council,
Mr. David DiMambro, Barrister, Radcliffe Chambers,
BVI Law Students,
Members of the legal fraternity,
I bid you a pleasant good afternoon.
I am very happy to be here this afternoon in support of the Legal Students Mentorship Programme and in particular giving remarks at this launch of the same. Over the years, it has been the policy of the Government of the British Virgin Islands to train as many of our citizens in the legal profession as it has become a highly demanded field due to the increase in our Financial Services sector. My government pledges to continue this support and further seek opportunities to enhance all our students learning and development capabilities.
I have learned that for the past year a committee comprising of Mr. David di Mambro of Radcliffe Chambers, Mr. Leonard Birmingham of Harneys and Mr. John Kennedy of Rook Rider who, however, is no longer at Rook, have been working diligently on putting a programme together that supports our legal students. As a result of the Committee’s hard work and commitment, the programme is being launched today. I extend to you fine gentlemen, a hearty thank you for your genuine interest in our law students. Your contributions thus far are duly noted and appreciated.
I would also like to thank two of our own law students, Lloyd Wheatley and Suzette Vanterpool, for their contribution to developing the programme and serving on the committee.
The Legal Mentorship Programme being launched today is just one component of the Committee’s recommendations. The other recommendations are to:
1) develop a high school awareness programme to educate students to the legal profession and the skill, requirements, interests and demands of the profession to help them qualify their interest; and
2) develop a Legal Training Programme to assist with pupilage, internships and helping students acquire the experience to obtain meaningful positions in the legal profession.
During these challenging economic times, the future may look a little dim particularly when seeking employment, whether in the BVI or abroad, for example here in the UK. It is therefore comforting to know that there is such a programme as the Legal Mentorship Programme, to provide guidance and support to our BVI law students. I think that the idea of matching the students with experienced lawyers based in England to advise and support them throughout their academic training and through to obtaining employment, is highly commended.
The participating lawyers are to be highly commended as well for taking the time out of their extremely busy schedules to meet or make contact with their assigned students whether by telephone, email or in person. My government is grateful for your contributions.
I wish to commend Hertfordshire County Council for once again demonstrating their commitment to the Twinning Partnership. While the other lawyers will support the students with commercial law, Hertfordshire County Council will focus on guiding and advising the students studying administrative or public law. Mr. Lloyd please convey our gratitude to the entire team at HCC. Your presence here today is greatly appreciated. I can now confirm that all of the internal procedures for the full implementation of our Twinning Partnership are in place and I will be officially launching the programme in the Territory on my return.
I recognize and commend the students who are present today. I am aware that it is exams time and students who were unable to attend today’s launch extended their apologies for not being able to attend due to other commitments as taking exams or they may have already travelled back to the BVI for the summer. I encourage all students to take advantage of this opportunity to work with our experienced and learned friends. I envision the benefits you will gain from such mentorship will be tremendous.
I look forward to the other recommendations being implemented, in particular, the pupilage opportunities. My hope is that the industry working with the students and the BVI London Office will find creative ways to implement the other recommendations.
I close by expressing my sincere thanks and appreciation to all who contributed to the realisation of today’s launch, those of you who have taken time from your busy schedule to be here today and those who have pledged their interest but were unable to be here. I reiterate my government’s continued support to this programme and other initiatives to develop our most important asset: our people.
Thank you.
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