Chardonnai Hughes Called To The Bar
Chardonnai Hughes hopes to inspire other women to achieve their career aspirations after completing her legal journey and joining the Bermuda Bar.
Ms Hughes was Called to the Bar during a ceremony at the Supreme Court earlier this month – her mother Dwaynette Hughes, and twin daughters Emiyah and Emizjae, showing their support remotely from the UK.
The 33-year-old traces her inspiration to study law back to Victor Scott Primary School, when, as a six-year-old, she told her teacher she intended to become a lawyer when she grew up.
“I remember being chosen as student of the month and asked by my teacher, Ms Daniels, what I wanted to be, and I shouted, ‘I want to be a lawyer!’ she told Bernews.
“I watched a lot of Law & Order on television, and whenever the bad guy got away, I’d be like, ‘If I were a lawyer, I’d be able to get them convicted. Law & Order was my favourite show as a child!”
Ms Hughes, who worked at MarketPlace as a 16-year-old before moving to the UK, earned her bachelor of laws degree in 2015 from Leeds Beckett University in England, followed by the LLM Legal Practice Course in 2020 at BBP Law School in Leeds.
She worked as a court clerk in Bermuda from 2015-16, and a legal consultant at the Attorney-General’s Chambers from 2019-20.
Ms Hughes also worked briefly as an executive coordinator and legal assistant at the Women’s Resource Centre before starting her pupillage in October 2021 at Bruce Swan & Associates.
“The Women’s Resource Centre was an excellent opportunity to figure out what I wanted to do and help other women,” she said.
“I could work on myself as a woman and who I wanted to become.”
Ms Hughes also thanked Saul Froomkin KC, who attended the ceremony, for his support and advice.
“He has been so valuable in my life and has become a mentor to me,” she said. “It was such a privilege and honour to get advice from him.”
Ms Hughes, who also has a six-year-old daughter called Kayla, said she hopes her story can inspire young women to overcome any hurdles and obstacles that come their way.
“I was a teenager when I had my first child and had to beat the odds,” she added. “I want to inspire other women to keep pushing and stay motivated regardless of the obstacles they face.
“If you have a strong support system and show perseverance, you can achieve your dream.”
