Bermuda

With work keeping me busy, it wasn’t until I was sitting on the BA flight to Bermuda on a late August afternoon that it sank in – I was moving to an island in the middle of the ocean, where I didn’t know a soul and had no idea where I’d be living! But I needn’t have worried. What followed were six incredibly rewarding weeks filled with interesting work, welcoming people and some of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen.

Bermuda is an island located around 640 miles off the coast of North Carolina, with a population of around 64,550 people. Roughly 20–30 per cent of the population are expats. Whilst most expats work in insurance or reinsurance, a good portion are foreign-qualified lawyers from the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Its legal system is very similar to that of the UK, and it offers a unique opportunity for junior lawyers to engage with the Supreme Court Rules 1985. The Bermuda court system consists of the Magistrates’ Court (handling both criminal and civil claims), the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. The final court of appeal is the Privy Council. The legal profession is a fused one, with lawyers being known as attorneys, and only after a year of local practice can foreign-qualified lawyers be called to the Bermuda Bar.

During my time in Bermuda, I was placed with Carey Olsen, a leading offshore law firm which specialises in corporate and finance, restructuring and insolvency, private client, and litigation. I was lucky enough to assist with a variety of complex and high-value matters, including trusts, reinsurance and property disputes. Many of the matters I assisted with also had a cross-border element, which is different from my everyday practice back home. My work included drafting grounds of appeal, conducting research and assisting with written advice. From day one, I was trusted to get involved and even had the chance to attend a variety of court hearings. Beyond work, I was invited to numerous networking events organised both by Carey Olsen and their clients – networking on a boat or at a beach club in the sun is certainly a far cry from your typical Bar scene! These events were a key part of the placement, and it wasn’t long before I was bumping into familiar faces around the island and forging relationships with lawyers all around the world.

Outside of work, I took every opportunity to explore the island. Personal favourites were relaxing at Elbow Beach, seeing the UNESCO site at St George’s, scuba diving shipwrecks in the triangle and the Swizzle Inn for a famous rum swizzle. That said, be prepared for rain! August to October is hurricane season, and when it rained, it poured! Fortunately, it was never long before the sun came out again, and my colleagues were happy to join me in ticking off all the tourist sites.

My time in Bermuda was an incredible adventure, and I am very grateful to Carey Olsen and the Pegasus Trust. Professionally, I now have practical first-hand knowledge of how another jurisdiction works and have seen how different legal and cultural settings can push you to adapt and become a better lawyer. It is truly a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience offshore life like this, and I would encourage anyone considering it to apply.

Scarlet Taylor-Waller
Five Paper