the State Bar of California.

Together with New York, the California Bar examinations are considered to be the toughest to pass in the US.

Mr. McMillan, who works for Hall, Duncan and Trott, is also a member of the Bars of England and Wales, Hong Kong, Bermuda and Northern Ireland.

He said yesterday: "In effect, this gives me greater flexibility internationally in conjunction with my other bar qualifications. It enables me to offer a service which expands to different parts of the world.'' His qualification will be a boost to Bermuda's legal reputation overseas, which should benefit the local international business community, he said.

He added: "It's a valuable examination to have for a lawyer working in an offshore jurisdiction.

"It may be an additional stimulus to certain people and give them more confidence in coming to Bermuda to deal in various business matters.

"It may be of some help to this firm and me personally to have it. No-one currently practising law in Bermuda has it.'' Mr. McMillan sat the Bar's final examination in Los Angeles in February after spending six months of "solid studying'' in Bermuda.

"It was a pretty rigorous exam,'' he said. "I suspect that the number of people who sat it is well into the thousands and I don't think the pass rate is particularly high.'' Mr. McMillan will continue to practise with Hall, Duncan and Trott, which he joined in April after serving for 12 years with the Attorney General's Chambers. He is a former senior Crown Counsel.

Mr. Robin McMillan.