Plan B Forum

American student Gabrielle Turnquest was called to the Bar of England and Wales after passing her exams at just 18.



The average lawyer undertakes the Bar Professional Training Course when they are 27.

However, the young high-flyer will not go on to work in the UK as she wants to return to her native America to qualify as a lawyer there.

But her success means she is also called to the Bahamas Bar, the country of her parents, and she hopes to work there.

Gabrielle took the course, at the University of Law, along with her sister Kandi, who also passed her exams but at the ripe old age of 22.

The teenager, who is originally from Windermere, Florida, hopes eventually to be a fashion law specialist.

She said: “I am honoured to be the youngest person to pass the Bar exams but, really, I was not aware at the time what the average age was.

“I didn’t fully realise the impact of it.”

Gabrielle has already made history at her previous university, Liberty University in Virginia, where she was the youngest person to finish an undergraduate degree there, in psychology, at the age of 16.

If the youngster wanted to work as a barrister in the UK she would still have to carry out a pupillage at a chambers for at least a year and then be granted a tenancy.

Traditionally, a trainee lawyer had to be 21 to be eligible for the call to The Bar but that was scrapped in 2009 with the introduction of the Bar Training Regulations.

Nigel Savage, President and Provost at The University of Law, said: "The growing globalisation of law firms and the need for more international expertise means that it is becoming increasingly more important for young legal professionals to have experience across different legal markets if they are going to maximise the number of job opportunities that are available to them.”

Guinevere wrote:This is one profession where age and experience matter far more than youth. We all have to keep up on the current state if the law, whether we have been practicing 35 years or 3 months. And law school doesn't make you a good lawyer, it just gives you the skills to become a good lawyer, down the road when you've got some experience under your belt.

TPFKA@W wrote:Ditto healthcare.

Gabrielle has already made history at her previous university, Liberty University in Virginia, where she was the youngest person to finish an undergraduate degree there, in psychology, at the age of 16.

rubato wrote:

Gabrielle has already made history at her previous university, Liberty University in Virginia, where she was the youngest person to finish an undergraduate degree there, in psychology, at the age of 16.

Anyone?

yrs,
rubato

Guinevere wrote:

TPFKA@W wrote:Ditto healthcare.

My sense is that there are more changes in technology and procedures in health care where youth/recent training can be beneficial - but it still takes time and experience to diagnose and heal and manage patients.

Guinevere wrote:OK -- I definitely defer to your expertise, and your ability to use an enema as a weapon

I'm also pretty sure you will report that the nurses train the Docs too, and that they come out of school knowing even less than nothing!

Guinevere wrote:
I'm also pretty sure you will report that the nurses train the Docs too, and that they come out of school knowing even less than nothing!

TPFKA@W wrote:

Guinevere wrote:OK -- I definitely defer to your expertise, and your ability to use an enema as a weapon

I'm also pretty sure you will report that the nurses train the Docs too, and that they come out of school knowing even less than nothing!

In a few cases a seasoned nurse has saved a young doctor's arse. I have called relatively new docs and had them respond with, "What do you usually do?" This is particularly true in Long term care with respect to skin issues. Nurses write the orders and the docs sign them no questions asked.

liberty wrote:

rubato wrote:

Gabrielle has already made history at her previous university, Liberty University in Virginia, where she was the youngest person to finish an undergraduate degree there, in psychology, at the age of 16.

Anyone?

yrs,
rubato

Pat Robertson?