“The next chapter starts now” for Cedarbridge graduate Javone Rogers as he was called to the Bermuda Bar yesterday.

“[I am looking ahead] with excitement, because this is what I’ve been studying for,” said the 27-year-old. “Everything I’ve done up until this point continues from here. Everything before this got me here, so the next chapter starts now.”

Mr Rogers earned his Bachelors in Law at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England, and competed his postgraduate diploma in Legal Practice at the College of Law in London.

Winner of the Dame Lois Browne-Evans Pupilage award, Mr Rogers was deemed “an excellent candidate” for a six month pupillage with Carmelite Chambers by Chief Justice Elizabeth Christopher, which he finished March.

Mr Rogers was Called to the Bar yesterday after just over six months of pupillage with Mussenden Subair Barristers and Attorneys.

Testifying to Mr Rogers’ character and ability as a barrister, Larry Mussenden said it was “a real pleasure to see a Cedarbridge student being Called to the Bar.”

“Further, I am of the opinion that Mr Rogers is a person of good character and ... fit and proper ... to be admitted to practice as a Barrister and Attorney in the Supreme Court of Bermuda,” said Mr Mussenden.

The idea of first becoming a lawyer came to Mr Rogers at the age of 12 when he visited Dame Lois Browne-Evans in her chambers as the Attorney General.

Addressing Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons, Mr Rogers recalled his first brush with the Bermuda legal system as a young man, when he was detained for almost six days leading up to Christmas.

After a lawyer secured his release before Christmas day, Mr Rogers said his decision to become a defence lawyer was solidified after seeing how important they are in helping everyday citizens.

“It really underlined the issue when I was involved in that situation. It just made it real that, look, this is something that’s really needed.”

The experience, said Mr Rogers, taught him that “Justice does not always happen naturally. Sometimes it takes a bit of work.”