Another Young Caymanian Joins the Ranks of Cayman’s Attorneys

Another young Caymanian, Ms. Lashonda Powell, has been admitted to the rolls of attorneys licensed to practise law in the Cayman Islands. The application was moved by Attorney-at-Law William Jones before the then-Acting Chief Justice the Hon. Richard Williams on Tuesday (March 26, 2019).

Moving the application before a courtroom packed with family, friends and colleagues witnessing the ceremony, Mr. Jones said: “It is a particular pleasure for me, as a Caymanian myself, to move this application on behalf of a fellow Caymanian.”

Mr. Jones said that Miss Powell, who was the Ogier scholarship recipient in 2016, “has an impressive record.” The new attorney-at-law graduated with an honours bachelor of science degree from the University of Toronto, with a double major in psychology and political science. While pursuing a bachelor of laws degree from the University of Liverpool, she also completed an advanced negotiation and mediation course at the London School of Economics. Miss Powell graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2016 with a bachelor of laws degree with honours. She then completed the Legal Practice Course in 2017 at the University of Sheffield, where she was awarded a master of arts in legal practice.

Whilst pursing her studies, Miss Powell interned with the Office of the Complaints Commissioner and various local law firms. She undertook her Articles of Clerkship at a local law firm, where she completed seats in investment funds, corporate and banking, dispute resolution and private client and trusts.

In his application, Attorney Jones said that “Miss Powell is very aware of the overriding importance of integrity towards clients, opponents and, above all, the Court,” and added: “I know that her family and friends and her colleagues at Ogier are very proud of her accomplishments.”

In her address to Acting Chief Justice Williams, Miss Powell thanked Ogier for the scholarship, the clerkship position, and for supporting her through her articles. She paid tribute to Mr. Jones, in particular, for “being a great mentor.”

She also singled out the Savannah United Church for special thanks.

In a moving tribute to her parents, Eddinton and Ernestine Powell, she thanked them for their guidance, inspiration and for teaching her “the value of hard work.” She expressed appreciation for their “unconditional love and unwavering support,” adding: “I love you both deeply and I know that I would not have gotten to this day without you and God in my life.”

In closing, Miss Powell cited the late John F. Kennedy, who famously said: “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard….”