Determined young lawyer Tanaya Tucker credits her faith in God for helping her bring her dreams to reality.

As one of the Island’s youngest lawyers, having joined the Bermuda Bar at the age of 23, she also knows the value of having a goal early in life.

Setting her sights high, Tanaya, now 24, aspires to one day preside over the Supreme Court in the role of Chief Justice.

“I think I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer, from the first time I can remember — I have a passion for helping those who can’t help themselves, and law was my avenue,” Tanaya told The Royal Gazette.

“I knew what I wanted to do for a long time; I didn’t take any detours. In the UK, a Bachelor of Laws, the LLB, is only three years. It took a lot of hard work.

“My ultimate career objective is to be Chief Justice of Bermuda. I am open to all areas of law so that I can have a wide range of experience. You have to be well versed not only on the government side but also private practice. You have to know them inside out.”

She was open about her ambitions one year ago, upon her induction to the Bar, telling Chief Justice Ian Kawaley: “It’s a dream to be one day sitting where you are sitting.”

It proved an emotional occasion for all, and particularly proud parents Alberta Dyer-Tucker and Jay Tucker.

Climbing the ranks means service, but also the potential to effect legislative change, she said — “at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about: to make a difference and help the people of Bermuda”.

Fielding questions from the public and finding her own way through the minutiae of Bermuda’s law has also revealed to her “certain things that I’d never have imagined we have laws for”.

“I don’t really want to get into the specifics of that,” she added. “But being able to research it and give people advice is pretty rewarding.”

For now, she’s engaged in civil law at the Attorney General’s Chambers.

“I’ve been involved with a host of different matters — but most recently I’ve been assisting with debt enforcement,” she said. “It’s tough, but it’s a job we have to do.”

She has gathered experience in media law, estate law and family law, as well as corporate law and civil litigation. Currently Tanaya is pursuing a Master’s degree in international business and law.

As a comparatively young person for her field, Tanaya, who hails from Somerset, still encounters “disbelief” from some quarters.

“I do get some people saying ‘You can’t be a lawyer already!’,” she said.

Her advice to others is to “work as much as possible, as early as possible, and never be discouraged”.

“The economy doesn’t look great now, but if you keep pushing and stay focused on what you want, your goals can be achieved. That’s advice for everybody, not just people who want to do law.”

As a dance leader at the Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, Tanaya also teaches dancing to children, and she counts her religious faith as one of her greatest allies.

“I don’t think that I would have gone this far if I didn’t have my faith. At the end of the day, God gives me the strength to get through and have patience.”