Any help for an attorney

Jeff,

I am studying for the VI bar as we speak. My husband and I plan on moving to STX in a few years and plan on practicing down there. One thing to consider, I don't know how long you have been practicing, but it has been 15 years since I took a bar exam. The VI requires that you take the MBE, Territorial and MPRE if its been more than 5 years since you took it. NO RECIPROCITY. I don't know about the climate on STT, but overall the VI has very high PI awards and an interesting criminal justice system. Depending on the type of law you practice, I am sure you will find the transition fairly smooth.

Abbi
www.mindspring.com/~stcroixcondo

Thanks for the information. My specialty is criminal although for the last 4 years I have emphasized civil litigation. I am interested in obtaining those large PI awards that you mentioned. Do you believe that a person with substantial litigation experience would have problems securing employment with a firm in either STX or STT? Are you planning on opening your own practice? Finally, is the island already overrun with lawyers?

Jeff

A look at the phone book tells you that there seems to be a lot of lawyers here considering the size/population of the islands.

I am a criminal defense attorney as well as a judge. I think there are some areas of law that are over-run, but my friends assure me that they could use some more good, ethical, hard-working attorneys in all areas. If you want more specific info, feel free to email me directly.

Abbi
www.criminal-defense.net

This link may be useful.
http://new.onepaper.com/vibarherald/

I am an attorney on STX.

Private criminal attorneys find it difficult to maintain a profitable practice in the VI because all members of the VI bar are REQUIRED to take criminal appointments. It's hard to build a practice around that area of the law when just about everyone who asks gets free counsel.

That said, most firms are continually looking for people willing to relocate to the islands. There is a great deal of turnover among attorneys coming from the states.

The juries here are indeed quite plaintiff-friendly. Some more cynical than I refer to it as economic redistribution via legalized extortion.

BTW, the VI Bar Herald site has not been updated in 18 months. Try welcometoparadox.blogspot.com instead.

VB

Thank you for the responses....

I'll be emailing you Abbi, and I appreciate the posted web leads.

STX - I'd like to share any firm responses I recieve, to get your impressions on reputation...

I'll keep in touch

Hi there -

I too have also been wondering about the legal environment in the Virgin Islands. I have been a legal secretary for the last nine years in the field of Intellectual Property. Does anyone know of any firms in the area which handle IP matters? I realize that this may be a long shot, but even if there are no IP lawyers in the area I'm hoping to transcend my skill set into another area of law. I do not have a paralegal certificate but would very much like to obtain this. Is there any information available on the need for skilled legal staff? Anyone looking for a good, loyal secretary? My boyfriend and I have been planning our move for the last year and will be relocating around April of '05 to St. Croix.

Thanks to all in advance for any info you may be able to provide!

- Kim -

There are often ads in the paper for legal secretaries. I bet you won't have any trouble finding a job!

Thank you Linda!! I hope that you're right. As I've never worked outside of the area of Intellectual Property I've been feeling a little nervous that I may be committing "career suicide" - I certainly appreciate the postive feedback! 🙂