Lorraine Welch will serve as the first Bermudian Chief Parliamentary Counsel in the Attorney General's Chambers, Government announced yesterday.

Mrs. Welch will work under the direction of Attorney General Larry Mussenden and facilitate the drafting new legislation and advise Government on legal matters and litigation.

Mrs. Welch has acted as Chief Parliamentary Counsel on a number of occasions last year after completing a management course in London. She was substantively appointed to the position on February 1, 2004.

Mrs. Welch first worked in the Attorney General's Chambers as a law student in 1992 and has been associated with the chambers ever since. She worked briefly in the criminal and civil sections of chambers before settling in the drafting section, according to a press release. Mrs. Welch has worked under four Attorneys-General, including the present Mr. Mussenden.

Mrs. Welch passed the English Bar exams in 1994 and was called to the Bar of England and Wales; the following year, she was called to the Bermuda Bar. She holds a number of degrees including a Master of laws with a speciality in legislative drafting and public law, a Bachelor of Arts with a speciality in French, a Bachelor of Education with a speciality in English and French and Advance French certificates in French studies in France.

Mrs. Welch earned both of her Bachelors' degrees in Nova Scotia, Canada after completing primary and secondary school in Bermuda at West End Primary and Warwick Academy.

Upon returning to Bermuda, she taught at Sandys Secondary School and Warwick Academy before getting into law.