Opposition Leader’s daughter called to Bar

She deliberately did not take one of the most obvious career routes, but Maia Eustace still ended up in a profession which she considers part of an elite group.

She is a Lawyer, a profession she at first did not aspire to.{{more}}

Maia, 32, the first born of Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace and his wife Jennifer, was called to the Bar here in St. Vincent & the Grenadines last Friday, November 21, in what, from all accounts, was a stirring session, filled with glowing tributes to the bright, young attorney.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT earlier this week, Maia said that the country won’t have the social dynamics that it could have unless young people are encouraged to think as broad as possible in their career choices, rather than the obvious careers in law, accounting, medicine and engineering.

This was the trend of her speech at her calling last Friday, as she addressed the Court on the topic “Why I never wanted to be a Lawyer.”

In her presentation, Maia explained how, even though she ran from that option, she ended up in the field of Law. The young Lawyer said she had intended to do a programme in International Trade, of which a graduate Diploma in Law is a prerequisite. As it turned out, after taking the Law diploma, she didn’t continue her pursuit of the International Trade studies, and the rest is history.

Eustace was presented to the Bar by Agnes Cato, of the Law firm Cato and Company, the same company where she will be employed. Her application was seconded by Dr Kenneth John.

Several attorneys paid glowing tributes to her including Queen’s Counsel Andrew Cummings, Parnell Campbell and Carlyle Dougan.

Eustace attained her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Economy at the New York University. She also gained a Post- Graduate Diploma in Law/ Common Professional Examination, and a Post-graduate Diploma, Bar Vocational Course, at the United Kingdom based BPP Law School and Bristol Institute of Legal Practice, respectively.

Maia previously served as the news editor of the New York based Caribbean Life Newspaper, which has a circulation of 125,000 and a readership of close to 400,000.

So, is Maia thinking about broadening her horizons and entering into the political arena in the future?

“I don’t have any plan for it at all,’ she said, laughingly telling SEARCHLIGHT that such a step isn’t broadening her horizons but following an obvious route.

She, however, said that she plans to “do whatever it takes” to support her father in his political career.