A veteran lawyer put forward a case close to his heart yesterday as his son became the latest member of the Bermuda Bar.

David Cooke shared his pride in his son, Graham Cooke, as he made submissions in the Supreme Court with family and supporters watching on.

He joked that he had invested figuratively and literally in his son’s education and was thrilled to see him achieve his goals.

“I am both proud and happy to be standing here making this application,” he said. “I’m proud of all his accomplishments and I’m proud of the young man he has become.”

The court heard that Graham Cooke had studied law at the University of Bristol after time at Warwick Academy, Trinity College and the University of St Andrews.

David Cooke noted that the global pandemic broke out in the midst of his studies, creating another challenge to be overcome.

“He was stuck in a flat in London and got on the last airlift that the Government did and then he was stuck in the house,” he said.

“I know it was difficult. We know that meant students at the time were simply trying to get through it.”

He described David as kind, thoughtful and someone who will pause and consider a situation rather than blindly march forward.

He recalled that while his son was a passionate rugby player, he had put the sport on the back burner when he came to the decision he needed to focus on his studies.

“He said quite frankly that he wanted to finish with a good degree and his courses were becoming more demanding and something would have to give,” he said.

“True to his word, he cut back on sport and socialising and he ended up with that good degree.”

Graham Cooke, a trainee at global law firm Kennedys in London, said that he was able to make it though his arduous journey to the Bermuda Bar only with the unending support of his family and others.

He added that after he completes his training in London and gains more experience, he hopes to return to Bermuda to practise law.

Graham Cooke thanked his father, saying: “While he may leave some pretty big shoes to fill, I am incredibly lucky to have someone with as much experience and knowledge offering help and support.”

Acting Chief Justice Larry Mussenden congratulated him on his accomplishments, adding: “While you may think they are big shoes to fill, he has every hope and aspiration that you will fill them and in time outgrow them.”