Jada Rogers-Ingemann became the first Bermudian pupil of the year to join the Bermuda Bar yesterday, in a ceremony filled with friends and family.

Delivering her maiden speech to the courts, Ms Rogers-Ingemann said that she had long dreamt of becoming a lawyer and felt a touch of melancholy as her work to achieve that goal neared its end.

But she added: “This is not a sad ending but a gratifying beginning I am excited to take on.

“I have had the privilege to work alongside people who have excelled in their careers and practised for decades and recognise the opportunities and honour that this calling provides me.”

Ms Rogers-Ingemann said she believed her interest in studying law emerged from her being told as a child that she had a “talent for arguing”.

Ms Rogers-Ingemann explained: “I believe this was a very kind way to tell a young girl that she was being distinctly stubborn. Nonetheless, I have always taken it as a compliment.”

Ms Rogers-Ingemann said she went on to join the Youth Parliament, which helped her address her fears about public speaking, and found a passion for corporate law in university.

She thanked ASW Law for giving her a place to explore her interests, and both Rod Attride-Stirling and the late Kehinde George for their support.

Ms Rogers-Ingemann also thanked her family and friends for their backing.

She noted the expression that it takes a village to raise a child, stating that she had a “small town” behind her.

Mr Attride-Stirling told the Supreme Court that Ms Rogers-Ingemann earned a Masters of Law from the University of Kent and spent her Bermuda pupillage at ASW Law.

He told the court that she had done an outstanding job at the company, stating: “She has been like a sponge. She has absorbed everything we have thrown at her.”

He said that while he had worked to persuade her to go into litigation, she had been “stubborn and insistent” in turning her attention to corporate law.

Mr Attride-Stirling added: “I can say, hand on heart, that we in Bermuda are very lucky to have someone like Ms Rogers-Ingemann coming into the profession.”

Chief Justice Larry Mussenden, meanwhile, noted her strong roots in the North Village community, describing the Rogers family as stalwarts in the neighbourhood.

He said that corporate law is crucially important for the island’s international business sector, stating that it was a great thing to see a young Bermudian enter the field.

Mr Justice Mussenden urged Ms Rogers-Ingemann to give back to the community by using her legal skills to support charities, and to remember to balance her work life with outside interests — as he welcomed her to the Bermuda Bar.