Andrew Barnes became the newest member of the Bermuda Bar this month in a ceremony with friends and family.

A graduate of Saltus and Queens University, Mr Barnes turned his attention to law after stints working with ACE Bermuda and the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

Presenting Mr Barnes to the court, Kim White, of Cox Hallett Wilkinson, highlighted Mr Barnes’s sporting history, noting that he played rugby for both Mariners RFC and the Bermuda national team.

“In rugby he has learnt, no doubt, that no matter what happens, he has to get up and keep going on,” he said, adding that he had no doubt Mr Barnes would make a fine addition to the Bermuda Bar.

Addressing the courts for the first time, Mr Barnes joked that Mr White had “adequately embellished my blunders and watered-down my virtues, yet through it all, he still attests to my good character”. He thanked CHW for putting their faith in him, along with his parents John and Cynthia, who he said provided encouragement, support and dependability.

He also thanked his brothers, but warned them: “I can only represent you in this jurisdiction, and I’m a lawyer not a magician.”

Mr Barnes concluded: “I shall endeavour to live up to my potential as I grow and develop as a practitioner. Today is just the beginning, and I feel extremely privileged to enter into Bermuda’s legal profession.

“I can only hope that my contributions to the profession and to Bermuda in my, hopefully, long and illustrious career are worthy of my peers and those who have gone before me.”

Chief Justice Ian Kawaley joked that Mr White had “picked himself a winning case for once”, saying that he was impressed that Mr Barnes had managed to balance his academic accomplishments with a social life, welcoming him to the Bermuda Bar.