It might seem like a dry, technical area of law to some but new Chief Parliamentary Counsel Lorraine Welch loves her post which puts her at the heart beat of Government.

---- It marks the end of a long road which began with a meeting with Attorney General Walter Maddocks in 1991 who was keen to recruit Bermudians.

---- She said: “It was before I went off to law school. He told me about it and it sounded exciting. It allowed me to combine my love of English with my love of the law.

---- “I also talked to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel in the AG’s chambers and it sounded exciting.

---- “You are at the heart beat of Government from the legislation perspective.

---- “You are taking policy after it’s been approved by Cabinet and translating it into legislation – the laws which will govern people including yourself,” says Mrs Welch who has worked under four Attorneys General, including the present Mr. Mussenden.

---- The common perception was that the work was boring and desk-based, said Mrs. Welch but in reality there is plenty of human interaction with civil servants and the private sector.

---- With an Opposition whose job it is to tear holes in legislation it might seem a daunting task, but Mrs Welch, 46, is undaunted and sees amendments as part of the process rather than slights to her work.

---- She says it’s critically important to get expert people and her department of eight might be expanded.

---- Her own former post of Parliamentary Counsel is currently being advertised. The team also has an administrator who helps run the website of Bermuda’s laws.

---- Revising laws and keeping the public up to date with accessible information is a critical part of the job, said Mrs. Welch.

---- “That’s my highest priority, making laws accessible.”

---- The web site also helps other Governments which want to borrow bits from Bermuda’s legislation, just as Bermuda sometimes looks at other countries laws for ideas.

---- “We can look at other jurisdictions and learn from them. However it’s always critical to modify and make sure it suits Bermuda.”

---- Recently, Mrs. Welch served on the Justice System Review where she rubbed shoulders with some of the country’s top legal minds on changes which could be critical in shaping Bermuda’s justice system this century.

---- “I thought it was quite a privilege to be working with such a highly skilled team,” she said.

---- She also works as an advisor to the Law Reform Committee which will play a crucial role in updating Bermuda’s legislation.

---- “Law reform is critical to the way we live in the 21st century. We are living in a global world.”

---- She plans to stick with it having spent all her working life with Government having taught at Sandys Secondary School and Warwick Academy before getting into law.

---- “They have really invested a lot in my training, lots of money and time.

---- “I really want to make a difference in Bermuda, that’s why I am still here,” says the affable Bermudian who was the first local to get the Chief Parliamentary Counsel’s post when she was appointed in February.

---- Mrs. Welch got plenty of help getting to where she is and is keen to return the favour. “Since I have been appointed I have had a number of calls from young people studying law who want to know more.

---- “I would love to send the message to young Bermudians that I am open for them to call me.”