Since childhood, Ingrid A. Moses-Scatliffe was determined to be a lawyer.

However, when it came time for her to go to college, she decided to make her way down another path—banking.

She learned a lot working there for three years prior and she knew she had all the skills necessary to find success in the field.

So she earned a degree in Information Systems Management. Immediately after her degree was completed, she was recruited into the bank’s Management Development Programme.

It wasn’t long after Moses-Scatliffe found herself the Head of Operations. While she enjoyed her job and the experience gained from it, there was still a yearning desire deep within her to fulfill that childhood dream of becoming a lawyer.

And why not?

She was used to never giving up, used to hard work and perseverance.

Already a well-educated woman, Moses-Scatliffe went to pursue her law studies in London. Like many successes in her life, this one did not come to her easy. Not only were her studies more challenging, but she had to leave behind her precious daughter, Takara, who was only a toddler at the time.

Once she made it through the first semester – and saw her grades – she knew she was going to be successful.  She came home every break she was given, which helped her deal with the separation anxiety.

In 2007, with the completion of her studies, Moses-Scatliffe accepted the position of Chief Registrar of Lands with the Government of the Virgin Islands. While she loved the opportunity of working with the government and gained a wealth of experience, her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer was centred around private practice.

Which is what she did.

Since mid January, Moses-Scatliffe has been a welcomed partner at Orion Law in Road Town, where she specializes in both land and criminal work.

“If you believe it, you can achieve it. I’ve always been a hard worker and have no regrets. Everything in life happens for a reason. I knew I would be a partner, and I knew I would work for myself,” she said, adding that her ultimate goal was to always work for herself.

Now that Moses-Scatliffe works in a private practice, she is witnessing firsthand what she believes to be an epidemic for the island.

“Coming from what I did before, one of the troubling things for me personally, is seeing the number of young persons appearing before the court,” she said. “It’s troubling because it says to me that we have serious issues as a society and we need to collectively and urgently do something about it.”

In particular, she notices an increase in school-aged children, particularly young men getting involved with crimes like burglary, theft and a number of sexual offences.

“It’s really, really troubling,” she said. “It’s a major problem.”

Aside from being a top-notch lawyer, and a loving, devoted parent to now 9-year-old Takara, Moses-Scatliffe also serves as a member of both the Rotary Club and Capital Productions. She is the chairperson of the National Parks Trust, as well as board member of the National Bank of the Virgin Islands.

Amidst all of that, she still finds time to travel and read novels.

Living by her diary and being a professional at time management helps make her busy lifestyle not quite as hectic.

For those who seek a calibre of life similar to Moses-Scatliffe, she offers this advice, “Nothing in life comes easy, it all takes hard work.  You must have a dream. You must know what you want.  Once you know what you want go after it. It’s not going to be easy, there will be road blocks.  Just dust yourself off and keep going.”

Of all the things in her life, she is most grateful for the family she loves and the strong friendships in her life.

Nothing compares to having people in life that can be trusted; people to always count on.