A legal duo who interned at the same law firm were Called to the Bar within three weeks of each other.

Hailey Edwards and Aleisha Hollis, who both worked at Conyers as students, were welcomed to the world of corporate legal practice by Chief Justice Narinder Hargun.

Julie McLean, the director of Conyers, said both women were “intelligent” and primed for success.

She said that Ms Edwards, who was Called to the Bar last Friday, had “an abundance of common sense and strong organisational skills to set her apart”.

Ms McLean added: “These are skills critical to a strong legal practice especially in the corporate field where it is important to understand our clients’ business needs.

“Hailey’s background degree in economics brings a depth to her legal practice and we are delighted to have her as part of our corporate team.”

Ms McLean added Ms Hollis made the most of scholarships and bursaries and made sure to get experience as an intern in law firms and the corporate world during her breaks from university.

She said: “It meant that she hit the ground running when she started her pupillage with Conyers.

“We are delighted to have her as part of the Conyers team and we have every confidence in her future success.”

Ms Edwards first started work at Conyers in 2017 when she interned in the private client department.

She moved to the corporate department the next year and started her pupillage in 2019.

She also interned with RenaissanceRe, Butterfield Bank and Cox Hallett Wilkinson.

Ms Edwards went to Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada where she earned a BA in economics.

Ms Edwards later got her Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Kent in UK and her Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, with distinction, at the BPP University Law School in London.

Ms Edwards thanked Conyers for the opportunity to work as an associate in its corporate department.

She said: “I will endeavour to live up to my potential as I grow and develop as a practitioner.”

Ms Edwards added: “Today is just the beginning of what I hope will be a long and memorable career.

“I feel exceptionally privileged to enter into Bermuda’s legal profession and I can only hope that my contributions to the profession and to Bermuda will be worthy of my peers and those who have gone before me.”

Ms Hollis, who was Called to the Bar on October 16, completed her law degree at the University of Essex in Britain, where she graduated with first class honours in 2018.

She passed her Legal Practice Course and Masters in Law, Business and Management with distinction at the University of Law the following year.

Ms Hollis said that her parents, Albert and Deborah Hollis, were the reasons for her success.

She also thanked ABIC, Conyers and the Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda for their bursaries, which helped her through her studies, as well as several experienced lawyers she had worked with.

Ms Hollis told the court: “It is an honour and an esteemed privilege to be called to the Bermuda Bar.

“Having had the opportunity of completing my pupillage at a leading law firm on the island – and by continuing to receive mentorship from established lawyers – I have no doubt that I will be successful in this profession.

“I look forward to developing my legal career at Conyers.”

Ms Hollis added: “I am extremely proud of myself for reaching this milestone, although this is just the beginning.

“The formal education necessary to be a lawyer may be completed, but I will never stop learning.”