There was standing room only as Girisha Aubeeluck-Worrell was Called to the Bar in front of a courtroom packed with family, friends and colleagues.

Her husband, local defence attorney Kamal Worrell, was among those present. He said his wife represented to him a “pillar of strength and determination”.

The couple met in 2009 on the first day orientation at The City Law School in London, England. They were married in 2011.

Mrs Aubeeluck-Worrell is the 237th woman to be Called to the Bar in Bermuda. Barrister Leighton Rochester, speaking at the ceremony noted there have only been 235 men Called to the Bar on the Island. He said: “We have been overtaken by the females.”

The lighthearted moment continued when, giving a submission on his wife’s behalf, Mr Worrell noted she had not paid a retainer fee for his services and that he was doing so on a pro bono basis.

Mr Worrell then spoke from the heart about his wife being a pillar of strength and determination. Afterwards he said: “I didn’t write a speech. I couldn’t even start to sit down and try to get those thoughts going, because obviously I’m still technically working. It would have taken me off my game. So I just waited for this moment to say whatever came out. Everyone said enough. I’m absolutely ecstatic. It’s a blast.”

Mrs Aubeeluck-Worrell was born and raised in Mauritius. She was Called to the Bar in England and Wales in 2010 and in 2012 returned to Mauritius for a year to complete her pupillage at the Chambers of Sir Hamid Moollan, QC, GOSK. She was admitted to the Mauritian Bar in 2013. She said: “I was very delighted upon my return to Bermuda, to find out that I actually do not have to do another pupillage in order to get Called to the Bermuda Bar (given that Mauritius is a Commonwealth jurisdiction). Hence, I am very happy to finally getting Called to the Bermuda Bar after going through all these challenges. I am now Called in three different jurisdictions: England, Mauritius and Bermuda.”

Speaking of how she and her husband met at The City Law School in London, she said: “I never thought the first day I met him we would reach so far. It was his humility, his sense of hard work, and his positivity in life, his vision, that brought us together and, yeah ... I’m glad I made the right choice.

“For the time being I do think I will be practicing in Bermuda [as a] defence [lawyer], most probably.”

Saul Dismont moved the motion for Mrs Aubeeluck-Worrell to be admitted to the Bermuda Bar by Chief Justice Ian Kawaley during the Supreme Court ceremony.

Mr Justice Kawaley noted that it was the first time someone from Mauritius has been admitted to the Bermuda Bar and the first a husband had supported his wife’s application to be Called to the Bermuda Bar. He also spoke in French, one of Mrs Aubleekuck-Worrell’s native languages, as he welcomed her to the Bermuda Bar.

Colleague Kimberly Caines, whose friendship with the Worrells began while the three were studying in London, said she was “immediately struck by [Mrs Aubeeluck-Worrell’s] compassion and grace” after meeting her for the first time.

“I recall the numerous times we would sit in our common room sharing about our respective countries, sharing the similarities of being from islands, sharing about the beauty of our beaches, the customs of our cultures and the personality of our people,” said Ms Caines. “We were idealistic individuals who hoped to make an impact in the legal world as legal minds and advocates. We remain as such.”

Ms Caines told the Chief Justice: “Interestingly enough, I noticed that another relationship was blossoming. I remember attending our year-end formal and seeing Girisha and Kamal together and in that moment I realised that what was blossoming between them was not just a beautiful friendship, but a beautiful union and partnership; who knew that five years later we would be here today in this moment.”