M’LORD it is my privilege to present the petition of  Laverne Michelle Fox, known throughout The Bahamas from her first career in journalism as Michelle Fox.   This is an especially proud day for me in a personal sense because it is the fulfillment of a request made by the late Rector of St. Agnes Anglican Church Archdeacon William Thompson, now deceased.  Archdeacon Thompson thought of Michelle as the daughter he never had, and he asked me to see whether I could assist in ensuring that she fulfilled her goal of becoming a lawyer.  I hope I have done that.  I am sure that he is smiling today.  I know that his widow is happy today.  And I am certain that the larger family of St Agnes is proud of her accomplishment today.
I know that her mother and siblings are also justly proud.
    It has been a hard struggle but I am sure it has been a worthwhile struggle.  She has succeeded through the tough times at Mona in Jamaica, where she emerged as a leader of the Bahamians there.  Then on to Cave Hill, Barbados where she served as the head of the Law Society.  She excelled in Nassau where she  edited and compiled the first publication of the Eugene Dupuch Law School.  We are all proud of her today.
    Michelle Fox was born in Nassau to the late Eric Fox and Mary Agnes Fox (nee Gibson) on 25th March 1969.  She is the last of six children .  She was christened in St. Agnes Church and remains a member there.
She received her education in Nassau at the St. Agnes pre school, T. Gibson Primary School (now C.R. Walker Primary School), St. John’s College and subsequently the College of The Bahamas.
She began her working career as a reporter with the Nassau Guardian.  She worked there for four years until joining the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas in 1994.
     In 1995, she left the Corporation to continue her education at St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina.  She was appointed Editor of the school’s newspaper called The Pen.  She left school in 1997 to study law.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from St. Augustine’s College, a Bachelor of Laws degree, University of the West Indies and a Certificate of Legal Education from the Eugene Dupuch Law School.  It was at the Eugene Dupuch Law School that she served as the Chair of the Publications Committee.
Michelle Fox is a popular woman. She has compassion for people and their interests.  She exhibited this as a journalist and as she followed that well-worn path from journalism to law started so long ago by Eugene Dupuch she exhibited those same qualities.
    She plans to develop a specialty in family law.  This is badly needed as too many walk away from their responsibilities to their children and families and on the other side so many are unable to see their children; hostages of badly drafted laws or vindictiveness.
    I congratulate her and wish her well.  I have tried to encourage her to find her niche in the market, develop it and promote it.  If there is one lack in the training of lawyers it is that insufficient attention is paid to law as a business.  I call it the Perry Mason or Matlock syndrome where it appears that clients never have to pay for services.  Lawyers should know and I have encouraged her to know that they ought to be paid for their services.  Clients ought know that they have to pay for the services they receive.  The investment in a legal education as you know M’lord is extremely expensive.  It is also important to develop an image of the kind of lawyer you are and to maintain that image.  It may mean not taking a certain class of cases and developing a specialty.
    It is only left then M’ Lord to wish her well in the future.  To thank all those who assisted in particular I mention Gerald Sawyer and his family.  I also welcome her to the legal fraternity and pledge my continued support.  Once again congratulations.