A 38-year-old woman Called to the Bar said the day had been a decade in the making.

Teodora Nan-Bridges said: “I’m very happy, because it’s been a long journey for me.

“I’ve worked very hard for ten years in order to be where I am today.”

She added her professional journey started a decade ago, but she had always known that she wanted to be lawyer.

Ms Nan-Bridges added: “I used to witness many injustices done to other people.

“I wanted to be able to help people who are afraid to speak, who cannot represent themselves.”

Ms Nan-Bridges said: “What I’ve come to understand is that it’s not the actual achievement, but it’s who I have become in trying to get where I am today.

“What I have learnt is that your colour, your gender, your country of origin; it doesn’t really matter.

“What really matters is to be able to trust yourself, to work hard, to have determination, and most importantly, to believe in yourself.”

The Smith’s resident, who was born in Romania, moved to Bermuda in 2003.

She worked for six years with restaurant firm MEF.

Ms Nan-Bridges moved to London in 2009 and spent three years at London Metropolitan University, where she graduated with a first class law degree.

She completed her Legal Practice Course over two years at England’s BPP University.

She worked at law firms Irwin Mitchell, K&L Gates and Stephenson Harwood while in London.

Ms Nan-Bridges told Chief Justice Narinder Hargun that she had faced a “multitude of challenges”. She added: “I had moments when I believed I was not going to make it, or I was told that I’m not going to make it. However, I persisted.”

Ms Nan-Bridges returned to Bermuda in February 2018.

She said that her Call to the Bar would not have been possible without family and friends, and singled out her sister Roxana Correia.

Ms Nan-Bridges said: “There were moments when she had two jobs, she worked daytime in the office and she worked evenings as a waitress in order to be able to support me.

“I would not have been able to do it without her.”

She also thanked her brother-in-law Roy Correia for his support.

She said that she had learnt a lot during her “amazing” year as a pupil at law firm Kennedys.

Mark Chudleigh, a Kennedys partner, said Ms Nan-Bridges was a “very hard working” pupil who was “very good company in the office”.

He added: “She’s always been a pleasure to work with.”

Mr Justice Hargun said that Ms Nan-Bridges should celebrate her Call to the Bar.

He added: “Always remember, while this is an important achievement in your legal career it’s very much the beginning.”

Mr Justice Hargun said that a successful legal career depended on hard work.

He added: “I’m sure that is not going to be an issue for you.”

Ms Nan-Bridges will start work with the litigation department at Marshall Diel & Myers this month.