The first graduate of a law firm’s pupillage programme has been Called to the Bar.

Marcus Symonds, 30, joined Bermuda’s legal fraternity on Monday after a ceremony attended by his colleagues and family.

Mr Symonds said: "I am very pleased to have been called to the Bermuda Bar as the first participant in Carey Olsen's excellent pupillage programme.

“I am appreciative of this opportunity to contribute to our island's legal community and I am grateful for the continued support of my family, friends and mentors.”

Mr Symonds, from Hamilton Parish, joined Carey Olsen last year after a competition for the firm’s first pupillage training contract.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science from McGill University in Montreal, Canada in 2012.

Mr Symonds said that he took on a variety of unusual summer jobs while at university, including a stint as an English as a second language teacher.

He was also conscripted into the Royal Bermuda Regiment for seven months before he left to continue his studies.

Mr Symonds moved to the UK and completed a Bachelor’s degree in law at the University of Nottingham in 2015.

He completed his legal practice course at BPP University of Manchester the following year.

Mr Symonds interned at several law firms, including Trott & Duncan and Conyers, before he joined Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, an international law firm in London.

He worked in knowledge management at the firm’s employment, pensions and benefits department, where he conducted legal research and managed training sessions for his colleagues and clients.

Mr Symonds said that he was eventually promoted to be Freshfields’ executive knowledge lawyer for London People and Reward team, but decided to return to Bermuda last year.

He explained: “Carey Olsen offered the unique opportunity of a joining a pupillage programme with a dynamic and rapidly growing firm.”

Mr Symonds worked in several of Carey Olsen’s teams who dealt with dispute resolution and litigation, corporate law and trust and private wealth teams.

He said that he would complete a second year as a pupil and continue to train across his practice areas.

Mr Symonds added: “I look forward to gaining knowledge and experience in employment, corporate and litigation law.

“I also hope to work more with our colleagues in other jurisdictions.”