Courts laud success of first Caymanian judicial intern
(L-R) Neil Timms of Caymanian Bar Association, Caroline Heal of Walkers, Erin Panton, Chief Justice Anthony Smellie, Justice Richard Williams and Erik Bodden of CBA
(CNS): Erin Panton, a 25-year-old Caymanian articled clerk at Walkers, is the first trainee lawyer to complete the new month-long clerkship at Judicial Administration. The course counts towards legal training requirements during the 18 months of articles that a clerk undergoes after law school and is designed to give young lawyers an insight into the workings of the court before they are admitted to the Cayman Islands Bar. Panton was assigned to Supervising Judge, Justice Richard Williams and underwent a weekly rotation, sitting with different judges and magistrates during her clerkship.
Chief Justice Anthony Smellie said the programme involves intensive exposure to the work of the courts over a four-week rotation between the different divisions of the courts under the guidance of the judges, magistrates and senior registry staff.
“The objective is to ensure that our lawyers are exposed to the world of dispute resolution and judicial problem solving in order that they might be better placed to determine their career choices and are better equipped to serve the public in the field of litigation,” he said. “Ms Panton has led the way in accepting the first judicial clerkship and I am delighted that she dedicated herself fully to the programme and found it to be as beneficial as we hoped she would.”
The Caymanian Bar Association’s (CBA) Neil Timms QC who, along with Justice Ingrid Mangatal and Justice Williams coordinated the programme, said it offers a unique experience that will benefit every Articled Clerk. “It is very pleasing that Erin and Walkers took advantage of this invaluable training opportunity and that the clerkship was such a success,” he said.
Panton worked with Justices Charles Quin, Mangatal and Williams, and also spent time with Magistrates Valdis Foldats and Angelyn Hernandez. Evaluating her performance, Justice Williams described her as the “perfect individual to start the ball rolling”. He said his colleagues submitted extremely positive reports on her impressive performance when with them. “It is evident that she made the most of this opportunity and that she will be a welcome addition to the Bar,” he added.
Panton said it was a very positive and invaluable professional experience. “It has certainly given me an edge in my legal career going forward,” she said. “In particular, it allowed me individual facetime with judges and magistrates to get to know what each of them expects of attorneys on a daily basis, and form professional relationships which will stay with me throughout my legal career. It was equally important that I could work with various court staff and learn from them over the course of the clerkship,” she added.
Category: Local News
This is the first year that this opportunity has been made available for those doing their Articles in Cayman. As such, there’s not going to be a massive number of applicants due to the fact it’s so new and the fact that a lot of people don’t necessarily want to gain experience with the judges as it’s not mandatory and they may want to gain more experience in the firm they are qualifying into.
Additionally, the courts simply don’t have the capacity to have every Articled Clerk participate, whether it were to be an optional or mandatory part of Articles.
Instead of tearing each other down and trying to discredit someone based on a name and one newspaper article, how about we educate ourselves on how one becomes a qualified attorney in Cayman and celebrate one of our newly-qualified-to-be attorneys.
You know, as sad as it is…I have to agree with you. I’ve witnessed something similar a few months ago. Overheard the HR talking about some resumes, and I heard when one of them said “I wonder if this is so and so son, I haven’t seen him in so long. I going call him in to see if it’s really him” Well….he got his call, turns out it was “X” son after all. And guess what?? He got the job….just like that.
Last name was XXXXX Had that been the typical “Ebanks” “Mcfield” “Ramoon” etc. that person would NOT have gotten a call, much less an email.
Long story short…it’s not what you know, but who knows you and vice versa. And…rich people look out for their own. Plain and simple.
Sad but true.
Anonymous 12: 24 pm , I am not against Ms Erin accomplishment , I am only pointing out how unfair it is for some and not all Caymanians , that they can get the opportunity to get their foot in the door to get on job training and experience , and some can’t even get their foot in the door. And that’s the Gods truth .
in order for Erin to have been accepted into this program she had to do a minimum of a three year bachelors law degree followed by a one year certificate to be eligible to be training as an articled clerk. Minimum of four years…..if she directly went in to law from school. Let me know of one Caymanian who has gone through the intensity of her training and has not gotten a place in the law field here?
so..although you may not be against her accomplishments your lack of knowledge on how she got there adds you to the side against her.
Congrats, Erin.
Haters gonna hate.
The last name doesn’t hurt. Let’s be real here folks!
As best I can tell you are all related in the fouth degree or less, so get your ass in gear and keep up with the cousins.
Get out from under the rock and face the cold hard truth.
A huge congratulations to Erin Panton. Keep making us proud!
What is it with Cayman? Instead of celebrating a young persons success we decide to throw rocks. Can’t say she is an expat or a paper Caymanian. So it must be because of her family name. Nothing to do with her ability. Always has to be someone else to blame or criticize. can’t help the crab in a bucket mentality. Just damn sad.
Lastname.
Just like Tibbetts – 3month jail term for vehicular manslaughter.
WTF does her family name or her achievement have to do with the actions of a completely different individual? Or are you seriously suggestesting thAt the judiciary are biased towards either the Tibbets family name or old Caymanina families generally? No shortage of people with well established names in Northward so that’s complete BS. You really are quite sad if you honestly believe that’s what determines her getting the chance and in proving herself.
That is easy for you to say. Not. everyone is privileged.
Just accept the fact young Erin is a Caymanian , her surname has nothing to do with her achievement ! That is why Cayman is in the state as it now because the youths are lacking self-worth, self -motivation and ambition. When we see young Caymanians like Erin gets recognition “BIG HER UP” cant blame the expats for thinking how uneducated we Caymanians are. I cannot fathom for a small island why cant we be respectful and spread the love, no wonder a large percent our youths have fallen by the wayside , is it because of their surnames ?
Congratulations to Erin on a job very well done in all respects. Being the first of anything is always a real challenge. What an endorsement!
If I may, though: how is it intended that we give the same “edge” to junior attorneys who intend to become advocates (including those who trained extensively in the UK specifically for that purpose, perhaps years ago) and have neither the seasoning of several years’ trial and error, nor the absence of conscience to visit those errors on clients, nor the absence of obstacles there would be to a fully qualified attorney with an active practice getting cozy with half the bench? I think that is a legitimate question in the context of giving Caymanians every advantage they can have, to help even the odds faced a few years down the line. Or are we okay with such persons being leapfrogged by those junior to them so that half a generation of talented would-be Caymanian advocates is lost?
Show the expats we do have qualified Caymanians who can fill many shoes. Keep them coming and make sure they get the recognition they deserved. Come on young Caymanians buckle up let this young Erin be a role model. This is what I am vetting for.
Excellent…but you would need thousands more to fill all expat roles. However if this clearly intelligent young lady is an inspiration, even to just a few more, and those in turn inspire 50 more… and so on and so on, then you might have something sustainable.
Excellent idea. We need more like this in all fields.
How come some Caymanians get on job experience and training , and not all Caymanian ?
The last name has alot to do with it…TRUST ME
I assure you that whether Erin’s last name were Ebanks, Rivers or Smith she would still be the same successful and determined young woman that she is. How dare you try to take that away from her because of her last name. No doubt you are a disgruntle Caymanian who has the ever present crabs in a bucket mentality! Why can’t you just clap or sit quietly!
Honestly? Her name has nothing to do with it. Erin has always put her best foot forward and strived to achieve greatness. She deserved this!
Maybe some Caymanians get on the job training because some Caymanians put in more work and show more effort and initiative than some?
Do I think all Caymanians should be given on the job training? Yes! Do I think its unfair that some will not receive that privilege? Yes! But at the same time – they too need to show the effort, they need to show they want the opportunity to grow.
That being said, I understand every employer is different. Sometimes you can go to work and put in that effort and still not get the support or training. That doesn’t mean you should make negative comments about this young hard working Caymanian woman who you probably don’t know from a hole in the wall.
Again – well done Erin! You continue to pave the way and show people where hard work gets you!!
Let me guess…
Your lastname is BADMIND!
TRUE
oh yeah good good
Her last name does have ALOT to do with it. I’m not asking you. I’ve heard from so many HR Professionlas already that when they recieve resumes, the first thing they do…is to seprate all the “Ebanks” Bodden” “Smith” “Mcfield” “Ramoon” Why? because none of them will mean any good…and they dont come from prominent familys like “Panton” “Mctaggart” “Foster” catch the drift? Ok…dont shoot the messenger…only saying what was told to me…
I guess there are no successful Boddens, Ebanks, Smiths, Ramoons, or McFields then? Lol.. GET REAL. You sound like an idiot mate.
I don’t even understand where most of these comments are coming from.. this is a young CAYMANIAN woman who has obviously worked very hard despite her last name! You all should be supporting her, trying to inspire your children or even yourselves to be like her (in respect to working hard and paving the way for new opportunities)!
She kicked the programme off!! Somebody had to do it! Well done Erin!! Don’t let these people break your spirit.
Well accomplished it’s about time Caymanians get recognition.
Nobody owes you anything. Get off your ass and earn it.
She did!
What about the elite and privileged , do they have to get off their ass . No it’s all in who you are and who you know . But it’s not a level playing field for everyone like it should be .
If you put this much energy into doing something constructive you might get somewhere too. Stop being bitter.
Congrats Erin!!
When a young Caymanian does well it’s a shame people like you feel the need to try and kick their legs out from under them.
Sharkey, which part don’t you get? Show some gumption and effort and the world could be yours. Sit back and write bitter comments and become…more bitter and resentful. The choice is yours. Perhaps now you will understand why those that try will just not listen to the shameful excuses and BS that comes out of a lot of mouths…just excuses for their own failures to embrace opportunity.