Finding work in the legal field on the Island

It is more than "within the realm of reality that a VI law firm" would hire someone from outside the VI. Most attorneys (including myself) in the VI came from somewhere else (we have no law school). There's a great deal of turnover in most firms because many come here expecting something other than what living here turned out to be. For that reason, a visit prior to accepting employment is a must.

Government work as an attorney is a little trickier. My sources tell me that you can't even get an interview with the AG's office, for example, unless you are black or, at minimum, native-born.

For firm work, however, send your resume around and follow-up behind it with a phone call. No different than in the states.

Good luck.

I would echo Etc's comments with the exception of his note concerning government work. I know a few people who are or have been employed with the AG's office who are neither Black nor West Indian. Most, however, clerked for a local judge prior to seeking employment. Your options would be greater with the feds (e.g. U.S. Atty's Ofc.) or with another public-sector agency (e.g. legal services).

I would also suggest that you not limit yourself to being a paralegal or legal assistant (although both are sorely needed). There are plenty of opportunities for contract work for an enterprising individual.

Good luck!

Okay. Sorry.

Not ALL employees of the AG's office are black or west indian.

MOST of them are.

And that's probably because most of the people in the VI are black and/or West Indian. Being a minority of less than 10% takes some getting used to. Just one of the adjustments that one must make.

As well as the attendant discrimination that goes along with it.

Indeed.

I find it hilarious that you folks are having a hard time being a minority down there when in the US, I'm sure some of you never gave it a thought.

And that was exactly my point. As a white woman, I never questioned that the majority of the folks in my office in Kentucky were white, of course they were. But somehow here the idea that the majority in EVERY situation, work included, is black, is seen by some as discrimination. Why? Out of 50,000 plus people on STX, there are about 3,500 white, non/hispanics. So, out of ever 100 people, 7 are white, non/spanish speakers. And, there is a very "small town" mentality on STX, those who know someone are first in line for jobs.

Fair? Maybe not. But that's the way it is and adjusting to it is necessary if you want to live here.

No one ever said it was "hard" (you read that into my post, Linda J.), and no one ever said that there it wasn't appropriate that the racial make up of a particular office reflect the percentages of the actual population. I just wanted to point out to Amberlee that, if she's white, she oughtn't get her hopes up about getting a job in the AG's office.

'Tis all.

Point taken Etc. There are two other things to consider.

1. One of the requirements for getting tax breaks from the Territorial Economic Development Commission is hiring people who are "residents" of the VI, people who have lived here for one year or longer. When I got my job, one of the questions on the application was when I moved here. I wasn't a resident at the time, but they started to count me after a year.

2. Many people who come down who expect to stay for extended periods don't. HR directors are leary of hiring and training someone for a "real" job (my apologies to all in the front lines of the tourism industry) when the director's experience is that most people don't stay very long.

And I agree with you, expecting to come here and immediately get substantial work in a government office is not realistic, black or white.

Happy New Years all.

Etc. wrote:

> No one ever said it was "hard" (you read that into my post,
> Linda J.), and no one ever said that there it wasn't
> appropriate that the racial make up of a particular office
> reflect the percentages of the actual population. I just
> wanted to point out to Amberlee that, if she's white, she
> oughtn't get her hopes up about getting a job in the AG's
> office.
>
> 'Tis all.

You imply that all black candidates for positions in the Attorney General's office are given preference over any white candidate, regardless of qualifications. That is a very presumptive position to be taking, and shows a lack of understanding of the dynamics of VI society. Do you believe that a black person from say, St. Kitts, would receive preferential job consideration over a white person from Philadelphia? It appears to me that the job demographics here mirror the ethnic demographic. Every Virgin Islander knows that local families have dominated government jobs for decades. However, I don't believe that the AG's office would summarily discard a job applicant based simply on their race. We leave that bit of business to the folks up there on the mainland, who have been practicing such tactics for hundreds of years.

who are planning on relocating to this islands are actually non-white? I find it hysterical that those non-whites are now put in the position of the minority & are looked upon with a bit of distrust. Kind of let's you know how those on the other side of the coin have felt for years.

This thread is raising some very interesting points.

I am a relatively new resident of St. Thomas. I am also a black, female attorney.

On the one hand, I feel the same frustrations that other new residents feel, vis a vis the fierce prejudice against non-locals. Without any local or in-house contacts, it would be just as difficult for me to obtain employment with the AG's office as, say, Amberlee if she were white and relocating from California.

However, as a black woman, I also find it remarkable that so many white statesiders don't question when they enter a restaurant/bar/party/office (fill in the blank) and ALL of the patrons/attendees/service persons are white (on an island of 90+% non-whites), yet freak out that the AGs office is predominately (but not exclusively) black or west-indian.

East Ender once posted a link to an article about race/nationality/class in the VI, if anyone is genuinely interested in the experiences of non-white non-west indians, I suggest giving it a gander. Just do a search and it should come up.

Found the paper:

http://www.saintmarys.edu/~jmcelroy/Race%20Ethnicity.htm

Onika wrote:

> This thread is raising some very interesting points.
>
> I am a relatively new resident of St. Thomas. I am also a
> black, female attorney.
>
> On the one hand, I feel the same frustrations that other new
> residents feel, vis a vis the fierce prejudice against
> non-locals.

Onika:

It was only starting in 1968 that children born "down-island" who resided here with their "down-island" immigrant parents were allowed to attend public schools in the US Virgin Islands. Before that, they HAD to attend private schools, even though their immigrant parents were paying federal taxes. Back then we were called "aliens" by other people who looked just like us, and were probably related to us. The slave ships dropped people off indiscriminately at different islands. Witness the struggles that David Jones had in the Senate, mostly because he was born on the island of Dominica. People who attempt to attribute a racial component to their job search here are misguided...it's all about who is born here, and it goes back a long way. Incidentally, current governor was Commissioner of Education during the 60's and was vehemently opposed to having immigrant children in the public schools.

The whole dynamic is very interesting and reminds of nothing more than the hills of Kentucky. There too, it matters more where you were born than what color your skin is. In many places in Applachia being a resident for only 2 or three generations is considered "newcomer".

Linda J wrote:

In many
> places in Applachia being a resident for only 2 or three
> generations is considered "newcomer".

LOL!!
Thanks, Linda J

Here, it seems that you must have resided on the island (whichever one) for at least 3 years before people will begin to take you seriously.

That's an excellent site. I used it as a source for my 21 pg paper on identity and nativeness in the Virgin Islands for my "History, Nation, Popular Culture and Caribbean Politics" course at Brown.

Dominic, would you be opposed to forwarding said paper to me for my personal review?
I find myself spending considerable time identifying and deconstructing issues of race/ethnicity encountered in my brief life on the islands and trying to reconcile it with my learned understanding of race/ethnic relations.
I would appreciate the perspective of a local Cruzan.
Feel free to email me off-board.

First, I want to thank everyone who responded to my initial email "Finding work in the legal field". I just came back from an out of town trip in which I had no Internet access and was amazed at the number of responses that I received.

Before I move to the Island I am definitely going to take a trip down for a week or ten days to check everything out. If it doesn't feel right then I'll stay put in California for now.

Does anyone know what the VI Bar Passage Rate is? In California it's wickedly low--less than 40-45%.

I am really intrigued by the idea of doing contract work as opposed to doing paralegal work until I pass the VI Bar. I have been self-employed for much of my life and have enjoyed it. I assume that without a VI Bar License that I cannot work as a contract attorney. What kinds of contract work--legally oriented or otherwise-- can an enterprising individual look into doing in the VI without a local bar license? In California paralegals can offer document preparation services to the public (but they can't give legal advice).

Thanks in advance for all of your input.

Amberlee

Amberlee,
I am not familiar with the actual passage rate for the VI bar. However, I am a member of both the CA and VI bars. If you sat for your MBE within the past 5 years and have a certain minimum score, you will be able to transfer the exam results over and only sit for the essay portion. I found the essay portion of the test difficult--not because the subject areas were complex or obscure, but because I found the questions tested your ability to memorize rather than apply legal principles. For example, the corporations question asked the following: how many persons does it take to form a corp., can the same person act as secretary and president, can a minor act as a board member. No issues re. shareholder derivative actions, securities fraud, fiduciary duties, etc. Since memory is my worst "subject" I was on pins and needles until I got my letter of admission.

With respect to contract work, I know that there are several small/mid-size firms on STT and STX that could use help drafting pleadings and appellate briefs. Such work would not require a VI license to the extent you are not signing the pleadings or arguing before the court. You would really need to come down here and do some significant networking, but it's not impossible, especially if you graduated from a top-tier or come with significant clerking/firm experience.

Again, good luck and please let us know your progress.

I am an attorney licensed in Arizona and Arkansas. We are planning to move in 2005. My husband is a chef and will be working at the Marriott resort in St. Thomas. I have spent my legal career at the same firm in Plaintiff's civil litigation. I'm originally from California. Where do you currently work? I loved St. Thomas when I got married there - and have loved the vacations there. I'm mixed with black and white and so is my husband. I love the culture, and I've never been in such a place where everyone was so accepting of me and my husband.

Sorry if this is a bit OT, but someone said that there is a need for Legal assistants down there? I presently work as a legal assistant for litigation in Princeton, NJ and am very interested in relocating to the VI's but not to keen on switching professions. Thanks in advance.

Joe

Hope this is still an active thread. Last summer my husband was seeking legal employment in STX and got excellent advise from this board. Search under "attorney jeff".