BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - CONGRATULATIONS are in order for Natasha 'Shanni' Grey who, on Friday (July 13), joined the assembly of lawyers in the Federation, having been called to the Bar of St. Christopher and Nevis.
In a ceremony held at the Basseterre High Court filled with family, friends and well wishers and presided over by His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas, Senior Counsel Terry Byron and Attorney-at-Law Chesley Hamilton submitted Grey's application which was approved.
Grey left the Basseterre High School with four ‘O’ Level distinctions. Although she did not go on to further her studies at the Sixth Form level which was a choice of her own, she was still persistent in her ultimate goal of pursuing a law degree and becoming a successful lawyer.
She became a proud mother at a very early age. Not allowing her circumstances to deter her from pursuing a career in law, she worked full-time at Caines Auto Services for ten years after finishing High School during which she attended afternoon classes and was able to obtain ‘O’ Level and ‘A’ Level Passes in Law.
Grey, who hails from Newtown, also attended evening classes at the University of West Indies Distance Learning Centre where she was able to obtain passes in core Foundation Courses for a Law Degree.
In 2007, Grey took the bold step and left her family, friends and loved ones behind to journey to London to pursue her law degree, studying at Holborn College, a franchise of the University of Huddersfield where she successfully graduated with an Upper Second Class Bachelor’s Degree in Law.
In 2010, Grey attended the City Law School in London where she underwent her Bar Professional Training Course for one year. After successful completion she, in 2011, took the necessary Bar exams and passed.
In her inaugural speech at her calling in ceremony, Grey thanked a number of persons including her parents, teachers, her aunt Verna, Charles Brookes, Dennis Merchant, Desmond Stevens, Lesroy Richardson as well as Byron and Hamilton for their love, support and assistance that helped to make her journey possible and bearable.
She described her journey as a long, hard and emotional one but said "it was worth it".
Describing some of the trials she had to overcome, Grey said that it was an honour and a privilege to be called to the Bar, and that she would honour her oath as a lawyer.
Fitzroy Eddy, in welcoming Grey into the legal fraternity, gave her sound words of advice, encouraging her to dedicate a percentage of her work ‘pro bono’.
"You must dedicate a percentage of your time as a lawyer towards doing pro bono work. Being a lawyer is not all about making money, every person in society deserves a fair chance at justice and as a lawyer you must dedicate some of your work towards giving the people a fair chance."
Justice Thomas spoke glowingly of Grey, stating that being a young single parent tends to deter persons from pursuing their goals.
"That did not happen with you," he said.
His Lordship encouraged Grey to make the time to encourage other mothers who experience similar situations as Grey did, not to give up but push on until they accomplish what they hoped to achieve.
He went on to say that not many persons are going to endure what she did and make it to the end, "I must congratulate you".
"This is but one step into your journey as a lawyer. The road ahead is long and challenging but whatever you do, you have to make it. You have a role to perform," he encouraged.
His Lordship also gave Grey lots of advice among which he told her with every case she takes, she must prepare before making her way to Court.
"Preparation is mandatory," he warned.
He encouraged her to sit in Court and listen to other cases and see how the different lawyers go about arguing their cases and learn from them.
The judge also gave Grey a quote by Abraham Lincoln to consider.
"There is a vague popular belief that lawyers are necessarily dishonest. I say vague, because when we consider to what extent confidence and honours are reposed in and conferred upon lawyers by the people, it appears improbable that their impression of dishonesty is very distinct and vivid. Yet the impression is common, almost universal.
"Let no young man choosing the law for a calling for a moment yield to the popular belief; resolve to be honest at all events; and if in your own judgment you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer. Choose some other occupation, rather than one in the choosing of which you do, in advance, consent to be a knave," he said quoting Lincoln.
He ended by saying, "I wish you all the best and I congratulate you. I also congratulate your parents for raising you the way they did. Obviously you were exposed to understanding what hard work is all about and you were well trained to overcome your obstacles and have the will to go on."
"Be true to your oath," he concluded.
Grey said that she plans to start with assisting Hamilton in criminal law but will eventually be moving on to civil law and perhaps 'dabble' in other fields as well.
SKNVibes congratulates Natasha Grey on being called to the Bar and wishes her the best in her future endeavours!
