way that non-Bermudians can become barristers.

And a move to allow registered associates to become voting members of the Bermuda Bar Association is one more step in this process.

Leading barrister Lois Browne Evans MP made this observation during debate on the Bermuda Bar Amendment Act 1997 which was passed by MPs on Friday.

"We have to be worried about the latitude and the easy way we allow people to come in and be enrolled as barristers,'' she told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"This will lead to the overcrowding of the profession. I realise that the international business sector is the side that is growing by leaps and bounds.

"However as we accept more and more non-Bermudians to practise here, we will soon find that our Bermudian children and grandchildren will not be able to find a space.'' She said the legislation allowed registered associates -- junior lawyers who may not have been called to the Bar -- to vote, meaning even more non-Bermudians could have a say in the direction of the council.

But Bermuda Bar Council president Narinder Hargun said he did not believe the extension of voting privileges to registered associates was a big issue.

"The Bermuda Bar Council is a professional association and (non-Bermudian) registered associates are as much members of it as Bermudian ones are.

"There is another aspect. Once they are full members they pay full fees but all this does is entitles them to attend our annual meetings twice a year. For practical purposes that is about the extent of it. In practical terms it does not change anything.''