“What are the requirements and process of being admitted as a lawyer in the Cayman Islands?”

This is one of the many questions our team get asked on a daily basis when someone is considering relocating to the jurisdiction – read on to find out more about working as a lawyer in Cayman.

Requirements to be admitted as a lawyer in Cayman – For non-Caymanians

To be able to practice law in the Cayman Islands you need to have been admitted as a lawyer in the United Kingdom, Jamaica or any court of the Commonwealth and possess a qualification comparable to standard law, practice and procedure in those countries specified above.

Typically this means lawyers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and certain other Caribbean nations. In addition, you will also need to have gained at least 3 years PQE in your home jurisdiction. Many of the major law firms will interview candidates at the two-and-a-half-year mark with a view to employing them shortly after reaching 3PQE.

Before a work permit can be granted for a newly hired lawyer, the work permit application must be approved by The Attorney General’s office. The Attorney General will examine the issue of whether the lawyer has gained the requisite experience in order to be eligible for admission to the Cayman Bar.

Within the first month of a lawyer starting work in the Cayman Islands, their formal admission ceremony will take place at the Grand Court.

Are you a qualified lawyer looking into a career offshore? Our team would be happy to answer any of your questions. Please get in contact with Graham Blyth for more information at graham.blyth@cml.ky for a confidential conversation.