Motueka barrister and solicitor Bridget Lummis described her admittance to the bar as like “marrying the profession”.

“I even had to say ‘I do',” she said.

After growing up in Motueka, Miss Lummis studied law and human services at Canterbury University until last year. Although she knew it would be more difficult to get a job in the Nelson region, she was determined to return to her roots after graduating.

“After the earthquake I was like, yeah, I'm going home.”

Miss Lummis worked towards completing the prerequisites for her bar exam while employed at Motueka ANZ, and was also involved in helping a number of Nelson lawyers work on a court case. She started work at Motueka law firm Kennedy and Associates this month.

Miss Lummis was the only applicant at the bar ceremony she described as “very special” which was held in the High Court at Nelson.

“I couldn't have asked for anything more perfect,” said Miss Lummis.

She wore a traditional wig, bib and robe for the event, saying writing her name in the “massive big book” next to every other barrister admitted at the Nelson court was a great feeling. “My mum and aunty said I made them cry with my speech,” she said.

Miss Lummis said Justice Stephen Kos made the ceremony very personal by allowing her family to photograph the event, which was not normally done. She was impressed that the Nelson court had the court order confirming her bar admittance ready almost immediately, saying she knew of other graduates who had waited up to three months for their local court to process the order.

Around 15 members of Miss Lummis' family were present at the ceremony, and more joined her for celebrations at the Motueka Sprig & Fern afterwards.

“Motueka is fabulous, I've got all my friends here,” she said. “It's so good being home and getting settled in at my new job.”

- © Fairfax NZ News