Summer Pupillage experience 2008
Kimberley Caines · July 25th, 2008
My name is Kimberley Caines and I am currently reading Law at the City Law School at City University in London. This September, I will be completing the 2nd year of my Senior Status Law degree after which I will be enrolling in the Bar Vocational Course (hopefully at the Inns of Court School of Law- City Law School).
After attending MJM’s first Summer Student Open House last year, I was immediately drawn to this firm and wanted to work here. I liked the ethos of it and felt like it would be a good fit for me. When organising my work placements for my summer holiday I knew that I had to work at MJM at some point during my summer and hoped that they would take me on.
I have just finished a 6-week placement where I was working in Litigation under Litigation Partner, Ms. Juliana Snelling, in the Corporate Department under Partner Mr. Andrew Martin and in Property Trusts and Estates where I was working under Partner Mr. Hil de Frias. My time at Mello has been rewarding, stretching and enlightening as I have been exposed to many facets the Legal World in Bermuda.
No two days have been alike and I have been exposed to many areas of law like Land and Human Rights to name a few. I have found that the more you prove yourself the more responsibility and work you will be given. I have felt valued as a Law student and felt like a real member of the team. The open door policies here make it easy to ask any lawyer a question on a point of law or to sit and hear of their legal experiences; they are always willing to assist you. There are times when I sit in awe at how learned the Lawyers are, it definitely motivates me to do well and learn the Law as well as they have.
The size of the firm makes it comfortable to work in, as you feel known by members of staff. It is easy to establish relationships as you are literally on a first named basis with everyone... even with Mr. Froomkin. With what I have learned already, I am looking forward to returning to school and putting my new skills into practice.
The opportunities we have as Bermudian Law students are amazing. I encourage you to take advantage of them while you can, work in a Law firm and get first-hand experience, doing so positions you at an advantage when it comes to your legal studies as you can draw on relevant experiences to help in your understanding of the Law.
It’s hard not to sound cliché when you have had an awesome work experience but if you are an individual that wants to be challenged and get a first-hand look at the application of law in practice, I would encourage you to work at MJM.