A new lawyer credited an alumna’s speech nine years ago at the Bermuda High School for Girls for sparking her interest.

Kathleen McBeath also told Puisne Judge Larry Mussenden at a ceremony on Friday that she followed the advice of her grandfather Crawford Anglin and studied communications, after finishing legal practice, at BPP University, London.

The Durham University Law School graduate was introduced to the court by Sophia Greaves, a director in the corporate department at Conyers and the BHS graduate whose speech in 2012 inspired her.

Ms Greaves said that both the litigation and corporate teams were “vying for her” at the close of Ms McBeath’s pupillage at Conyers.

“I am pleased to say the corporate team won her over,” she added.

Ms Greaves called Ms McBeath personable, positive and compassionate, and praised her “quiet, commanding confidence”, her volunteering and advanced music studies.

“It’s young, talented Bermudians like Kathleen that continue to inspire me every single day,” she added.

Linda Parker, the head of school at BHS, attended the ceremony.

Ms McBeath said that many of the women she most admired had attended the school and added that she was deeply grateful as a recipient of a 2015 Bermuda Government Scholarship.

She was supported by Conyers in the summer law programme from 2016 through 2019.

She said she was grateful for the guidance of Anna Bruce-Smith in the firm’s trust department, and Jason Piney in the corporate department.

Ms McBeath thanked her parents, Laura and Campbell, and brothers Jonathan and Iain.

Mr Justice Mussenden told her she had learnt among “first-class lawyers” at Conyers.

He praised her volunteer work and said the example must have been set by her parents.

Mr Justice Mussenden added: “I look forward to seeing you in the courts more.”

On her choice of corporate law over litigation, he said: “There’s always a time to come back.”