The local legal community grew in both size and stature when five new lawyers were called to the Bermuda Bar last week.

A packed Supreme Court heard Timothy Bridges, Denis DeFrias, David Lines, Paul Harshaw, and Paul Woolgar called before Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux.

An unusual step was taken during David Lines' call to the Bar when the Appleby, Spurling and Kempe solicitor was introduced by John Collis of competitor law firm Conyers Dill and Pearman.

Mr. Lines was educated at Saltus before receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Clark University in Massachusetts.

He earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from University College, London University and graduated from the Guildford College of Law in 1993.

Mr. Lines returned to Bermuda in 1997 where he has been working in the area of corporate law and re-insurance.

Mr. Collis said Mr. Lines, who worked as a trainee and assistant solicitor at DJ Freeman in England, was a "man of conviction'' involved in local youth mentoring programmes.

Timothy Bridges was outstanding as a solicitor with experience in both England and New Zealand.

He moved to Bermuda in April of 1996 where he began work with Appleby Spurling and Kempe.

Mr. Bridges noted that his road to the legal profession was "not clearly sign-posted'' but joked at how pleased he was at his parents' "foresight'' of giving birth to him at a time when education was free.

Bermuda-born Denis DeFrias attended Gilbert Institute and Warwick Academy before graduating from Toronto's York University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

He received his LL.B from the University of Kent before completing the course at the B.P.P. Law School in 1997.

Mr. DeFrias completed his pupilage with Mello Hollis Jones and Martin and intends to specialise in property, trusts, estates and immigration.

He thanked his family for being the "greatest guiding influence'' in his life and stated: "Everything I am and will become, I owe to them.'' Paul Woolgar, who was first employed by Essex Court Chambers before returning to Bermuda to work with Mello Hollis Jones and Martin's litigation department, heaped praise upon his mentor, Saul Froomkin, for his "support and guidance''.

Mr. Woolgar was noted for receiving the Conyers Dill and Pearman bursary for law studies and winning a law prize at the University of Essex for having the highest marks in commercial law.

Lauded by Mr. Froomkin as a "most unusual man'', Mr. Woolgar gained recent local notoriety in his role as a revolutionary student in the recent local production of "Les Miserables''.

Mr. Woolgar recalled childhood dreams of being an actor before pursuing his law career -- which he described as "entering the ultimate acting profession''.

Paul Harshaw, a University of Buckingham graduate, is working with Conyers Dill and Pearman as a solicitor.

He began his pupilage with Richard Francis and Francis before finishing with Conyers Dill and Pearman.

Described as a "computer whiz-kid'', Mr. Harshaw entered law as a second career -- after working previously as an electrical engineer.

Lawyer Richard Hector noted appreciatively the diverse backgrounds of the five new lawyers and speculation that large number of lawyers "rushing'' to the Bermuda Bar might overcrowd the profession.

But he noted: "I don't know of any unemployed lawyers -- underemployed perhaps, but not unemployed.'' Mr. Meerabux praised each of the men individually before finishing the Call with an excerpt from "The Merchant of Venice'' referring to the power of language.

NEW BLOOD -- Four of the five lawyers recently called to the Bermuda Bar are from left: Denis DeFrias, Timothy Bridges, Paul Woolgar and David Lines.