The legal profession is today mourning the death of a second leading lawyer in less than a month.

Former Solicitor General Barrie Meade QC, who died yesterday aged 62, will also be remembered for the role he played during 20 years' service with the Bermuda Police Service training young officers.

His sudden death has sent a shock wave through the legal community coming so soon after the death of lawyer Richard Hector QC at the end of February.

Tributes have been paid to Mr. Meade, who served with the Bermuda Police before starting legal studies and spending 16 years with the Attorney General's Chambers including a spell as Solicitor General from 1993 to 1997. "He will be sadly missed by the Bermuda public and the legal fraternity," said current Attorney General Larry Mussenden.

"It has saddened me hear of his passing and on behalf of the AG chambers and the Government I send my condolences to his wife and family.

"I'm very sad that two people ? Mr. Meade and Mr. Hector ? who have been influential in their legal career have passed suddenly so close together."

Sen. Mussenden had a close connection with the late Queen's Counsel lawyer.

"I first came into contact with Mr. Meade when I was a full time Police cadet in 1981 and he was inspector of the Police riot squad.

"I was doing a business programme at Bermuda College and he recognised that I was studying law," he said.

Sen. Mussenden worked in the Chambers when Mr. Meade was the Solicitor General.

"At the time I worked under his direction. I then had the honour of having Mr. Meade, the Solicitor General, move my application to join the Bar."

He added: "Mr. Meade served the Police force with distinction and, as head of the Police training school, would have impacted the lives of hundreds of Police officers. He was a positive influence in the law chambers."

The Senator said Mr. Meade and his late colleague Mr. Hector "had a love of the law that will live on for many years in the hearts and souls of those they have touched. Mr. Meade will be sorely missed. His passing is a huge loss".

Another who worked alongside Mr. Meade was lawyer Saul Froomkin QC, who said: "He was the perfect lawyer and he was dedicated to Bermuda as a Policeman and then as a lawyer."

Mr. Froomkin heard the news late yesterday morning and said: "It came as a shock. I last saw him at a meeting two weeks ago. I had no idea he had not been well. With the passing of Richard Hector as well we have lost two of our top legal professionals."

In a statement the Argus Group, which Mr. Meade joined in 2004 as company secretary working in the areas of compliance and legal service, said: "He was a well respected and admired member of the Argus senior management team. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the Argus Group are with his wife Brenda at this difficult time."

Immediately before joining Argus Mr. Meade was compliance manager at Appleby Spurling Hunter.