Three law pupils are expected to join the Ministry of Legal Affairs next year, the Attorney-General told the Senate yesterday.

Kathy Lynn Simmons, who is Minister of Legal Affairs, said the return of the ministry’s pupillage programme had already provided “vital” opportunities for several Bermudians, adding that it “must continue”.

Ms Simmons added: “I am overjoyed to announce that our most recent cohort of four pupils have successfully completed the programme.

“Each were confirmed by their pupil masters to be exemplary in their competencies and fit and proper to enter the legal profession.

“They are now all Called to the Bermuda Bar as barristers and attorneys, notaries public and commissioners for oaths.”

She added: “The ministry has received eight requests for pupillage and has obtained approval to hire three new students.

“The cost per pupil is about $78,200, not including benefits, and we anticipate our next cohort will commence training in January 2020.”

Ms Simmons explained that to qualify for the Bermuda Bar, law graduates must complete 12 months of pupillage.

She said pupillages in the private sector had dried up because of budget constraints.

A total of four prospective Bermudian lawyers were assigned to the Department of Public Prosecutions, the Legal Aid Office and the Civil Advisory and Legislative Drafting sections of the Attorney-General’s Chambers under the Government pupillage programme, which was relaunched last year.

Ms Simmons said the students, Janae Nesbitt, Shi-Vaughn Lee, Jason Outerbridge and Tiné Tucker, had excelled in the programme.