put herself through law school was welcomed to the Bar by Chief Justice the Hon. Sir James Astood.

Miss Victoria Pearman has for the past year been doing her pupilage at the law firm of Appleby, Spurling & Kempe.

She will continue to work at the firm as a trial lawyer in the litigation department -- after she finishes writing final exams for a Master's Degree.

Lawyers who spoke on her behalf included AS&K managing partner Mrs. Diana Kempe, Mr. Alan Dunch whom she has been assisting in court, Mrs. Monica Jones of the Bermuda Bar Council and Mr. Melvin Douglas on behalf of the Crown.

Mrs. Kempe told of the 32-year-old's long road to a law degree.

She attended Bermuda Institute, Prospect Secondary and the West Indies Training College in Jamaica, finally gaining her high school diploma at the Adult Education School.

At the urging of friends and relatives, she went on to enrol at American International College in Massachusetts, gaining her BA in 1987 with full honours.

Miss Pearman not only excelled in her studies while at AI: she was founding president of the Pre-Law Students Association, tutored at the college's writing centre, and was winner of several outstanding student awards.

To top it off, said Mrs. Kempe, she was elected to the Who's Who of American Colleges and Universities in 1987.

With the help of scholarships and through working at the Southampton Princess Hotel, Miss Pearman gained her law degree from the London College of Economics and Political Science in 1990, where she was elected law students' representative.

Mrs. Kempe concluded by saying Miss Pearman would be "a credit to the Bermuda Bar''.

Mr. Douglas, on behalf of the Attorney General's Chambers, said the courtesy and character Miss Pearman had shown would be an asset to the Bar.

And her colleague Mr. Dunch said it was "a great honour'' Miss Pearman had decided to stay on at AS&K. He commended her for her social conscience, and understanding of the law and true role of a lawyer.

After being called to the Bar, Miss Pearman, thanking her family and friends for encouragement and inspiration, admitted it had been a rough road to gaining her law degree.

"It's been a long eight-year walk to stand here today,'' she said, adding it was an honour to be called to the Bar by Sir James before his impending retirement.

In welcoming her to the Bar, Sir James offered this advice: "Don't fall into the trap of being a perpetual student. Get out into the real world.'' PROUD MOMENT -- Having just been called to the Bar, Miss Victoria Pearman stands outside Supreme Court with her parents Mr. Reginald Musson (second from left), Mrs. Marjorie Pearman (at her right) and other family members and friends.