Fantastic piece in the the UK Law Gazette this week
As she prepares to move on, Emma Pickard, Civil Crown Counsel on the British Overseas Territory St Helena, describes a working Friday on the island in the middle of the South Atlantic
As Civil Crown Counsel, I am a part of the FCDO-funded technical co-operation programme which usually sees employees from overseas come to St Helena on two year fixed-term contracts. Some employees come on secondment, or take a career break, and then go back to their host organisation, while others use their new skills and knowledge to secure a new role back in the UK or overseas. The option to stay in St Helena is also a possibility as technical co-operation contracts can be extended for up to 5 years.
It’s an incredible experience both professionally and in terms of lifestyle. Remote island living can have its challenges but the local community are some of the kindest, most welcoming people I have ever met and it won’t be long until you feel at home. From a work perspective, you will have the opportunity to make a real and direct difference to the future of a country in a way that you might not necessarily have the chance to do back in the UK, and the knowledge and skills that you will develop will be extremely useful even after you leave the island.
8am: I set off for work. The drive into town is wonderful; a far cry from the bumper-to-bumper traffic I used to sit in back in Stoke-on-Trent. Road users are friendly and greet each passing car with a customary wave. No traffic lights; no motorways; no delays – the perfect commute.
8:30am: After easing into a parking spot outside the office and grabbing a coffee at the nearby St Helena Coffee Shop (coffee sourced from a local coffee plantation), I am ready to start work. It’s a two minute stroll in the sunshine from the coffee shop to the Attorney General’s Chambers where I check my emails and to-do list for the day.
There are not as many lawyers as you would typically find in a government department back at home so caseloads tend to be quite varied. Given the nature of the island, I am exposed to legal issues that I wouldn’t ordinarily be faced with in the UK; an interesting and rewarding experience.
As Civil Crown Counsel, I will often deal with anything from contracts and procurement to civil litigation and safeguarding matters.