Danielle Edwards and Cara Shillingford are the latest Dominicans to join the legal fraternity.
Edwards was admitted to the bar on Thursday October 17, while Shillingford was admitted on Monday October 21st.
Both young ladies’ applications for admission to the bar were supported by distinguished senior attorneys, David Bruney and Singoalla Blomqvist-Williams.
Edwards was admitted before Justice Stephenson, while Shillingford was admitted before Justice Errol Thomas.
Blomqvist-Williams urged both attorneys to ‘raise the bar’ and become advocates of legal reform, especially for women and children.
Bruney remarked that the young ladies, who both worked in his chambers as interns, are exceptionally intelligent and among the most industrious and gifted that he has ever seen.
Cara Shillingford is the daughter of Hillary Shillingford and Sylvia Vidal of Salisbury. She is among the distinguished few to graduate with a First Class Honours Degree at the University of the West Indies.
Her success in international mooting also brought her national attention when she travelled to the University of Oxford to participate in the Grand Finals of the Price Media Law Moot Court Competition after her team successfully won the Caribbean and Central America segment of the Americas Regional Round.
Speaking to the court, Shillingford vowed that anyone who enters her office will get the justice that he/she deserves regardless of wealth, race, gender or political affiliation. She is especially concerned about helping the less fortunate members of society.
Danielle Edwards is the daughter of David and Annie Edwards of Castle Comfort.
A 2007 island scholar, she is currently reading for a Master of Laws in International Law at the Washington College of Law in Washington DC, with an emphasis on International Environmental Law, Energy regulation and Climate Change Policy.
She is a senior editor of the Sustainable Development Law and Policy Brief, a school-based publication dedicated to raising awareness of sustainable development issues.
She intends to found a Charitable Trust Fund to support other gifted Dominicans to further their education. She believes that education is a right and that educational opportunities should not be manipulated to satisfy partisan interest.
Edwards hopes that her career will enable her to champion the causes of Women Empowerment, Children’s Rights, Environmental Protection and Democracy, all of which, according to Blomqvist-Williams, are passions of hers as well.
Both young lawyers attribute their success to God, their families and close friends.
They’ve said that they especially wish to thank attorneys David Bruney, Singoalla Blomqvist-Williams, and Kevin Williams for their support along the way.
We love you Danielle!!! you’ve made the Matthews/Edwards so so proud. Continue to keep on striving for only the best and remain humble. **side note – black and white is definitely your color**
Continued success ladies- always glad to see Dominicans doing positive things.
You all people are too jealous look so many kids study
In North America Canada and England and no one
Gives these negative comments every one is happy for them
If they go away and look for jobs u all still complain
Jealousy have all the negative comments
U all are so much haters u all might even want to destroy
These sweet young girls education is the key in life these days
Big up to these young girls women rule
Why do negative ppl share their views when n where it’s not wanted???
Danielle, we r oh so proud of u. U made ur Marigot n Wesley folks proud xx
@Hack Saw you must be a VERY mad man. Law exams are VERY hard and the course is A LOT of reading. Takes A LOT of discipline and determination.
So!! so is everything else.
so all the vary Nesty have she doh have first honours in law secret come out. Cara u large girl……my boy Hilary congrats
Vary sal! She take how many years to finish the degree then take how many retakes just to start the bar…smdh
u feel good being so nasty. what motive u have being so vicious and vindictive,. absolute Jealousy .
The saying, “If at first you do not succeed, try again.” Perseverance won. At least she has completed it.
Congratulations to both young ladies for your achievement. You’ve given me the urge to move on
More Lawyers we do not need. I do not know how they obtain their qualification, because the few which I have come into contact with do not impress me one bit. In Dominica we need more competent electricians, motor mechanics, plumbers etc. more trades men, certainly not more incompetent lawyers charging such high fee with poor representation.
lol
Jealous you jealous..! when lawyers are losing sleep and making their sacrifices…people like you on the street wasting time and walking with “little pieces of cloths” right up on all you that all you calling panty and now you “hating” on these young people who have decided to take educating and advancing themselves seriously…BYE “SOUR” HATER..!!
When they are novices you should expect that. When they become seasoned lawyers, they will project that they are more intelligent and experienced.
Congrats Danielle, this is great!!!
Hi Dannie, Congratulations! You have made us all proud. The sky is the limit. We are looking for great things from you.
Aunty B
Congratulations Danielle. You have the thinking of a successful Lawyer. Keep focused and always put God first in everything you do.
Danielle, Congratulations on such a great achievement, very proud of you. (your Nenen)was hoping she could have been there to celebrate with you. I admire and support the causes that you highlight as your driving forces.
May God Bless you and may you always remember that this is a gift from him that you incorporated with your hard work and dedication to make this day possible. Continue the good fight, we will continue to be proud of you and God will continue to Bless you.
Int Environmental Law… DA need people like you ASAP
Here is how the legal profession works, u finished law school after working so hard, u feel entitled to some reward, u get your job whether in Govt or private practice u take on new debt for a new vehicle, your debt burden then forces you to seek all avenues for increased income, u then take on cases for big cash fast, a.k.a drug cases, with that comes more money, then u want your house and incur more debt, the cycle continues until u become like all the other lawyers around you, look at their faces at the court…
Today Dominica has more lawyers than there were in previous years.
Congratulations to the two ladies. My best wishes to you.
As teachers we should never underestimate the children in our classes. Cara was down to earth and just enjoyed being in school. Your ITSS debate teacher should be very proud of you. She saw your potential a long time ago. Hats off Miss Shillingford and May The Lord bless and keep you throughout your career.
With joy I Congratulate Miss Shillingford.She is proof that hard work pays.
it also shows that a child can listen to the parents, particularly the father, i think this is a job well done by one of Dominica’s hardest working man. I remember this kid from young and i know this man pushes his kids.
I wish you all the success
How do you know she worked hard? Today’s degrees are like a breeze. The professors will tell the students to “just show up.” President BUSH (BROOSH) went to Law School too and could not keep a high level Intelligent conversation. Money talks.
Obviously …you have not done university level work.
Congratulations and keep on shinning little Sisters. Be the best you can be.
@Anonymous :Money talks? so Hilary or the other young woman parents paid off UWI? Some of you people are scary!!! I will not be narrow-minded and say jealousy, because we have even accomplished people just being salty, however you need to change your mindset. How dare you compare Bush to any student even at high school level in Dominica? I take umbrage to that! Why can’t we just be happy for people?
Congratulation to these young ladies entering the law of bar, my hats goes out to u both. This what we need to see from our young people in Dominica positive structures, educated community makes positive reflections an better communities, when there good posting of news u never see positive comments, where are all positive comments DNO.
Congrats ladies! Now go ahead and uphold the law of Dominica without fear or favor
Where are they putting all those lawyers??
Mind your business and try to educate your children too..a good education is a very great asset whether you can remain in D/ca with it or not…!Stop being negative and trying to pull down other people children be happy for the success and achievement of other people’s children as if they are your very own…stop that envious “pulling down!”
Congrats to both lawyers. I pray and hope that you all will help to raise the bar and not just be followers. I see pure potential continue to use it.
By the way DNO Annie Edwasrds is from Marigot and David Edwards is from Wesley now living at Castle Comfort. Don’t get your facts mixed up.. More power to Marigot and Salisbury.
Parents a job well done
had it been something else,would you make correction ?
Thanks for making this point clear. It is very important that the ground roots r emphasised
Congratulations Cara! You have made your family proud. Salisbury is very proud of you. Best wishes. The sky’s the limit! YOU GO CUZ!
Congratulations Ladies, good luck with your careers
Continued blessings Counselors, and welcome to the profession! Hoping for a successful and rewarding career for you both.
GGA, Esq.
Great to see our Dominican women doing so well. I am not from bawi and i do not know these ladies, but just knowing they are Dominican women makes me proud.
KEEP IT UP it is only the begining
Congratulations to the young ladies. Always seek assistance from other senior lawyers, because the profession is a learning process. Remain humble, and be positive in performing your duties. Best of luck ladies!!!!
Congratulations Jean Bawi.
If all you lack backbone, if all you cannot decide without fear of skerritt, if all you be fair and just Dominica can be a better place. Go hard on crime inspite of who the criminal may be – bigshot or small little shot. Don’t look at color, surname and family position – what is good for peter is good for paul and paula.
Welcome to the Club of “Bailers.”
Congratulations to Cara Shillingford, daughter of Hillary and Sylvia Vidal which have known so well when I lived in Coulibistrie Covent.
Again congratulations and may God bless you. I am sure both of you were students of Convent High School
Best wishes to both of you. well deserved. Well spoken hope you both live up to the expectations you set for your selves. Let your character and your principals stand above all else, cause by your fruits you will be judged. Keep God first in everything. We will be watching and hoping for the best in RED, BLUE, and GREEN, country.
We have to many brains in Salisbury and more to come. Look smart people in Salisbury. We topping National Exams next year look and see. That is why they hate us. To many brains. Look brains.
sorry for the spelling I meant BAWI I am a Salisbury resident. We have it all, lawyers, nurses, doctors, we even have someone in the diaspora going to be Scientist. Bawi all the way.
Good life, good food, hard working people
BAWI BAWI BAWI BAWI YES I BAWI
too much brains you have its not your fault “Mawi”
Mawi: And your point is?
Is Salisbury the only place with brains. The whole of Dominica has brains people. I have nothing against Salisbury people. if u have nothing to do with yr time find something useful to do.
stupees
One of my friends in Toronto is from Salisbury. She is a very nice and helpful person. I will inform her about that.
Good God! Don’t we have enough layers already? And still cases taking so long to come to court? Look. Alcapone on remand for more than five years before they sentence him, that it a crime by itself! Must be a lucrative profession in some other ways perhaps. Good luck young ladies, it is dog-eat-dog out there.
ou pas feb!!!!sweetie educate yourself or ask someone wiser than you before you make such stupid statements.its not the lawyers fault that cases take so long to “come to court” or that sentencing takes so long. all you have to do is congratulate these young women or whoever and wish them well, don’t break them down then try and sugar coat it with little good luck and then some.
All you Dominicans too negative!! I want to see YOU go and do law! What is your profession? jeez
@ real talk.My profession? I’m a bailer. I bail drug dealers and such as have a big tikle. I love my profession.
Law is one of the most easiest profession out there. The only hindrance to many “would be lawyers is the money – as law school is quite expensive. Most lawyers are not good in Math. Except in Business Law. Knowing law and studying law is like knowing and studying History. Don’t think that you need to be a “Brain box” to be a lawyer as most people would have us believe.
And Iam a conveyancer, charging people 3% of the value of their property for registration of their, title. Normally easy work, excellent pay.
They probably need more judges and magistrates.
