DeMercado said she was honoured to be Harneys’ legal scholarship recipient. “I know how competitive the market is, and coming from such a small island as the Brac, I am extremely grateful that they saw something in me and look forward to a bright future with the firm.”

The scholarship will cover the full length of the recipient’s bachelor’s, and comes with paid professional experience during school breaks as an intern at the firm. Once DeMercado has finished her postgraduate qualification, she will be eligible to undertake articles of clerkship with the firm, which when completed will allow her to qualify as an attorney in Cayman.

During the months of July and August, DeMercado participated in the first round of Harneys’ internship programme, where she worked alongside the Dispute and Resolution practice group, mentored by associate Mark Burrows.

Offshore law firm Harneys provides a variety of internship opportunities to students who are currently enrolled in either secondary education or in a university or postgraduate-level law course.

This year’s summer internship programme saw 18 participants placed within the firm’s legal, fiduciary and business support teams, where they observed day-to-day operations and earned practical experience.

Intern Kathy Quintana-Gonzalez said her time with firm’s fiduciary team had allowed her to gain a solid understanding of corporate work and the fiduciary business.

Harneys said it is committed to supporting exceptional individuals who wish to gain firsthand work experience in a leading global firm.

“We are pleased to have welcomed these students into Harneys and provided them with a framework that can be used to help them excel in their chosen fields,” said Trisha McElroy, Harneys’ Head of People Management and Culture. “We hope that the experience gained through these internships will help nurture their understanding of the global legal industry and build a long-lasting relationship with their mentors.”