The founder of a community volunteer group has been welcomed into the Bermuda legal community.

Clevelyn Aaron Crichlow, 26, the founder of the group Bermuda is Love, was Called to the Bar on Friday.

Mr Crichlow, who had been employed at Cox Hallett Wilkinson, said that he was “excited” to finally have his hard work pay off.

He added: “I know I want to do something to help society to improve people’s lives.

“I can’t help but feel a sense of great accomplishment.”

The bar call ceremony took place in Civil Court and was overseen by Puisne Judge Larry Mussenden.

They were joined by Mr Crichlow’s family and the Right Reverend Nicholas Dill, the Anglican Bishop of Bermuda.

Mr Crichlow is the grandson of Erskine Simmons, a leading member of the Progressive Group that helped demolish Bermuda’s racist segregation policies with the non-violent 1959 Theatre Boycott.

He said that he went into law because he saw it as the most practical way to help the public.

Mr Crichlow added that his family inspired him to give back to the community and make sure that he did something profound.

He told the court: “When I was young, my family and I would spend Sunday nights over at my granny’s house for dinner, and my grandpa, my daddy and my uncle would have these deep conversations about the socio-economic issues.

“I remember thinking that all I wanted to do was be like them – to contribute to their discussions and say something that would make them all turn their heads and say ‘wow, Aaron, that’s a good point’.”

Mr Crichlow added: “I didn’t want to just philosophise – I also wanted to make real physical change.”

Mr Crichlow attended Dalhousie University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy.

He then went on to receive a law degree from the University in Kent in the UK and a Master of Science degree in law, business and management at the University of Law.

Mr Crichlow joined a pro bono legal clinic during his time at the University of Law to work on cases around environmental law.

He also continued his pro bono legal work when he returned to Bermuda, spending his time between his pupillage at Cox Hallett Wilkinson and attending the Angle Street Legal Advice Centre.

Mr Crichlow cofounded the group Bermuda is Love in 2020 with friends. It promotes community and environmental support and helps co-ordinate programmes such as clothing giveaways, community gardens and blood donation drives.

His position has given him a platform to speak at several events, including Bermuda’s first Youth Climate Summit in November and the Hamilton Rotary Club’s international Youth Summit.

Mr Crichlow admitted that while he did spend a lot of time balancing the organisation with his work, the two were interesting enough to keep him motivated.

He said after the ceremony: “I enjoy Bermuda is Love a lot – that’s how I balance in out.

“A job is a job, but I really look forward to it.”

Mr Crichlow added: “As long as I’m helping one person, I’m doing my job.”

Craig Rothwell, who mentored Mr Crichlow while at Cox Hallett Wilkinson, called his former pupil a “philosopher” and a “philanthropist”.

He added: “This is a privilege for me in the sense of only being the final bearer of the Olympic torch – having the easy job of igniting the flame after others have laboured over many miles and many years to hand over that torch.”

Mr Crichlow has applied for a part-time course in practical ethics at Oxford University to get a Master of Science degree in teaching.

He hopes to study topics such as neuroethics, which looks at the impact of neuroscience, and the ethics of artificial intelligence.