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Breaking Legal Barriers from Brixton to Barbados:
Simone Bowman’s Career and the Power of Dual Qualifications for Women
I am a practising barrister and a qualified solicitor of England and Wales and also admitted to practice law in the beautiful Caribbean islands of Jamaica, Barbados, St Kitts & Nevis, Antigua, Grenada and St Lucia and The Republic of Guyana. I am a globally minded legal professional who bridges jurisdictions, communities, and cultures.
My qualification journey
I was born in the UK to parents from Guyana and Jamaica. Growing up in South London with a deep appreciation for both my British and Caribbean heritage, my dual identity would later become central to my legal career. I realised curiously at 15 years old, during a Commonwealth youth exchange trip to Barbados, that my dual heritage would form part of my future career and global perspective. In 2016, I pursued a cross qualification at the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica. It was a great privilege to navigate gaining a regional legal qualification and aligning my UK-based knowledge with the legislative and procedural frameworks of Jamaica.
My eventual call to the Jamaican and subsequent Bars, was not only a personal achievement but also a statement about the potential for legal professionals to move between jurisdictions and make an impact on both sides of the Atlantic.
Today I lead Bow Law Chambers, incorporating Bowman Law Caribbean, offering cross-border legal services tailored to the complex realities of transnational families, diasporic business owners, and public sector entities operating in both regions. It’s a wonderful feeling to be instructed to provide expert legal opinions on mirror orders, locals standards reports and or travelling to represent clients in court.
Similarities and differences between the two jurisdictions
The legal systems of the English-speaking Caribbean islands can be summarised as being English common law, except where modified by local legislation. Notable exceptions include Saint Lucia, which has an underlying French civil code similar in content to the Napoleonic Code and Quebec law, and the Republic of Guyana, which has a hybrid law heavily influenced by Roman/Dutch principles.
The court system largely reflects English practice and heritage, with familiar customs and modes of address for a hierarchy of courts modelled on English antecedents, and with broadly similar procedural rules for criminal and civil practice. In fact, many Caribbean states still have the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as their final court of appeal. Legal concepts in the Caribbean can differ from English practice in that each island has a written constitution which is referred to as supreme.
Professional legal training in the Caribbean is co-ordinated by the Council of Legal Education, established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas. This treaty also established the Caribbean Community and Common Market, later known as CARICOM. It was signed on 4 July 1973 in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago.
I would also add that “lawyers” are generally called attorneys at law. Unlike England and Wales, there is generally a ‘fused’ legal profession throughout the Caribbean, with no distinction between solicitor and barrister, save in those select Caribbean states which allow for admission as a solicitor only.
Advice to those considering dual qualification
There are many benefits to being dual-qualified. You will invariably look at a legal issue or a dispute from different lenses gained from working in distinct legal jurisdictions, with different legal rules and cultures. My clients are generally impressed by the diversity of my practice, spanning different countries and legal jurisdictions. I share some advice below.
1. Expanded Career Opportunities
Dual qualification opens doors in both private and public sectors across multiple regions. It enables lawyers to represent a broader range of clients and take on complex international matters. For women, who may face limited advancement opportunities within certain systems, this flexibility can be a game changer.
2. Connections and Costs
Although such a competitive edge can boost your own practice in England and Wales, before embarking on the decision to qualify in the Caribbean or any other jurisdiction, it is paramount to do your research: ascertain whether you have the necessary connections (or can acquire them); decide whether you can withstand the costs involved in maintaining a dual qualification (such as practising certificates and professional development courses); and be fully committed to staying up to date with developments in the law in more than one jurisdiction.
3. Serving Diaspora Communities
Think about the prospective businesses or individuals you wish to serve. In my case, dual qualification allows me to offer unique value to Caribbean diaspora communities, corporations and local authorities in the UK and around the world. These communities often require legal assistance that spans family law, property law, business law and inheritance issues across both regions. A dual qualified lawyer can navigate cross cultural systems with cultural fluency and technical expertise, creating a more holistic and empowering client experience.
3. Legal Entrepreneurship
Dual qualification equips women to build niche practices that reflect their personal values and heritage. By founding a cross-border Law Chambers, I have challenged conventional models of legal practice and new models of service delivery that are inclusive, accessible, and community-rooted.
4. Flexibility in Practice
Dual qualification offers the flexibility to relocate or work remotely between the two regions. Whether you wish to experience the vibrant cosmopolitan life in London or the serene and idyllic landscapes of islands like Barbados or Jamaica, having credentials recognized in both places makes the transition seamless.
5. Financial Benefits
I would agree that as dual practitioners, we have the potential to earn more than those qualified in one area. The Caribbean's advantageous tax regimes make it strategic for dual-qualified professionals to benefit while maintaining access to the UK’s financial market.
Finally, to my fellow Legal Women, being dual qualified in multiple jurisdictions is far more than a professional achievement. For me, it is a gateway to unparalleled possibilities for myself, my family and the professional communities I serve.
Simone Bowman
Dual Qualified Barrister, Solicitor (E&W)
Attorney at Law -Jamaica, Barbados Guyana, St Lucia, Grenada, St Kitts, Antigua