Most people are lucky if they can complete their childhood dreams - but Kim Wilson has fufilled her dreams and then some.

Ms Wilson started fresh out of university as a guidance counsellor at Whitney Institute - a childhood dream - and she was recently made a partner at the law firm of Trott & Duncan, focusing primarily on civil litigation, wills and probate.

Growing up in Illinois but spending holidays in Bermuda, Ms Wilson (who describes herself as the "&" of "Trott & Duncan") said she always dreamed of being a guidance counsellor and a lawyer. She attended the University of Illinois where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Psychology then returned to Bermuda, ostensibly just for four weeks.

Then the opportunity arose to do her Master's in Education through the University of Indiana, who sent teaching staff to work out of the Bermuda College one summer. Before she knew it, Ms Wilson was settled in Bermuda, following her dream of being a guidance counsellor at Whitney Institute. The four weeks quickly turned into five years.

Then, one day, Ms Wilson had a conversation with some students that would change the course of her life. The students had come to her about their own futures, concerned that they would elect to follow one career path only to realise halfway down the line that they wanted to do something else.

"It's never too late" to change your career path and follow your dreams, she told the students.

The conversation stuck in her mind. "I thought, this is crazy," she said. "I've wanted to do it - why not?" That November she began applying to law schools, and by September she was gone.

Ms Wilson returned to Bermuda after completing her studies and was called to the Bermuda Bar in 1995. Beginning her career at Marshall, Diel & Myers, she moved to Trott & Duncan on July 1, 2002.

Then, on April 2 of this year, she accepted the position of partner from Delroy Duncan and Perry Trott. Although she began mostly in criminal litigation (which she still enjoys), Ms Wilson now focuses mainly on civil litigation, wills and probates, and property and boundary issues.

At times, she joins the bench as an Acting Magistrate in Magistrates' Court.

Trott & Duncan appears to be growing at the same pace as its newest partner. Trott & Duncan's new unlimited trust license from the Bermuda Monetary Authority to deal with Westport Trust Company Limited is "very exciting news", she said.

"For me in particular," said Ms Wilson, who will now be able to assist in administering estates with Westport as the trustee. The eight-attorney firm is also looking to add two new lawyers by the end of the year, and has placed all their trust information in interactive documents on the firm's website at www.td.bm . "It's a cost-saving measure for the client," explained Ms Wilson.

Established in 1992 "to fill a gap in the market for a law firm to provide first class legal services at a competitive price and level", Trott & Duncan's client base spans Bermuda, Europe, the US, the UK, Canada and the Caribbean.

Busy in her free time with her 16-month old daughter Niara and husband Dr. Kent Simmons (a scientist at the Bermuda Biological Station), Ms Wilson is happy to be where she is.

"In law school I had a poster reading: `I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,'" she said. "I wrote on it: `Including law school.'"