The island’s newest lawyer thanked her mother for “never deterring me from my dreams, despite them seeming almost impossible”.

Precious Smith, who was Called to the Bar before Puisne Judge Larry Mussenden, also wished her mother Wendy Woodley a happy birthday.

Ms Smith said: “I wouldn’t be who I am today without your guidance – I hope what you witness today is a good birthday gift.”

The court heard that Ms Smith, whose mother is a top football referee, excelled at sport before she made the legal profession her new goal.

Ms Smith, who played for the women’s national football team, had the distinction in 2011 of scoring all the goals in a 5-0 win over Antigua & Barbuda at under-17 level.

She was introduced to the court by Rod Attride-Stirling, the chairman of ASW Law, where she served her pupillage.

Mr Attride-Stirling said Ms Smith’s academic accolades from the Berkeley Institute were “evidence that there are many in the public education system who are able to excel internationally if given the chance”.

He added Ms Smith also captained Berkeley’s netball team and played on the football and cricket teams.

Ms Smith studied law at the University of Buckingham, where she graduated with second-class honours, and went to gain a Master of Laws degree in international commercial law.

She completed the Legal Practice Course with distinction at BPP University in London.

Ms Smith later worked on insurance and reinsurance claims at Oil Insurance in Bermuda.

Mr Attride-Stirling said: “If other law students are curious as to what it takes, the answer is simply to look at Ms Smith and achieve results similar to hers.”

Ariana Caines, of legal firm Conyers, said Mr Smith, her friend, had been known at the University of Buckingham for “her crazy hours at the library – but also for her kindness and her warmth”.

Ms Smith said she was “humbled and honoured” that her big dream from the age of five had become a reality through hard work and late nights, despite financial difficulties.

She told the court she planned to work in corporate insolvency and restructuring.

Ms Smith thanked Mr Attride-Stirling, as well as Neil Horner and Kehinde George, also of ASW Law.

She also thanked her adopted mother Tanya Parris, her sister Imani Smith, grandmother Esther Woodley and her late great-grandmother Grace Woodley.

Mr Justice Mussenden congratulated Ms Smith for her “hard work and determination, not just in legal studies but other areas as well, particularly sports”.

He added: “I wish to reach out to the family and say you have done a magnificent job.”

Mr Mussenden told Ms Smith: “You have made them really, really proud today.”