Senior Crown Counsel Vareen C. Vanterpool

As Senior Crown Counsel in the Attorney General Chambers, this Virgin Islander believes we can do and achieve anything that we want, once we apply ourselves and adapt these basic principles.

Her career choice evolved from her admiration for the fictitious female detective Nancy Drew and in particular  her admiration for Drew’s father, who was a lawyer in the character books. Since her days at the Alexandrina Maduro primary School, she has dreamt of becoming an attorney and she knew that there was nothing else she wanted to do but law.

 “I don’t regret it,” said a smiling Vanterpool as she sat back in her office at the Attorney General Chambers, “it has been an exciting journey.”

In fact, since she had set her goal at such a young age, everything she did thereafter was geared towards achieving it.

From the courses she took as a senior in high school, which included literature and history, to her associate degree in General Studies from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, in which she did courses such as “Government and Politics”. Her focus remained fixed on doing what she thought was best to further her prospective career.

Vanterpool who hails from Great Mountain and is the daughter of Hugo and Erlin Vanterpool, graduated from the BVI High School in the Class of ’94, and was also an avid musician, playing the trombone in the High School Concert Band.

After spending one year at the Human Resources Department, in 1997, the aspiring lawyer left for the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, to pursue her law degree.

In 2001, Vanterpool received her Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB) and proceeded to the Eugene Dupuch Law School in the Bahamas to complete her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) which she received in 2003. She was called to the bar of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) later that year.

On her return to the Virgin Islands, she joined the Attorney General’s Chambers as a Crown Counsel. During her first two years as a Crown Counsel Vanterpool said she focused her energy on learning as much as she could about the practice of her new profession. She was eager to assist other Crown Counsels in the Chambers and was particularly keen to “wet her feet” in Court in any matter in which she could assist.

Her dedicated attitude and zeal for the profession saw her being promoted to the post of Senior Crown Counsel in 2005.

Seeing the rapid development of legislation in the commercial sector and also noting the need for legislative reform, she left again for higher education and pursued her Masters of Arts in Legislative Studies (Merit) from the Institute of Advanced Legal studies, University of London, UK.

Vanterpool has also had the opportunity to take part in a three-month attachment from November 2006 to January 2007¸ at the Cen Pol Tal Law Rewrite Project in the United Kingdom, where she assisted on a project to redraft some of the tax legislations in the UK.

“It was a valuable attachment out of the jurisdiction and it was a good experience,” said the young lawyer who relishes any opportunity to learn and grow in the profession.

“The approach to drafting was different and it was educational to observe what they do. I appreciated the legislative drafts that they prepared and assisted with drafting various provisions that they were working on,” she explained of her involvement during the attachment.

From January 2007 to date, Vanterpool who also has a keen interest in litigation has been divided between the Civil Litigation department and Legislative Drafting department at the AG’s Chambers.

“I have always enjoyed litigation. I have been grateful that they have allowed me to do that. The schedule is pretty demanding but it has been good, ” she said while accepting that she is kept very busy.

When questioned about the challenges or disadvantages of being exposed to public law versus a private practice, the Senior Crown Counsel said she does not get bored. The practice of public law provides so many difference challenges, there is always something new to learn, she said.

“I enjoy that I can see what is happening and believe it or not you are in a position to give your suggestion here and there in certain important matters. Even in the civil litigation department there may be landmark cases you can get close to,” said the passionate Senior Crown Counsel.

The lawyer noted that with the passage of the 2007 Constitution in place, the area of Constitutional Law will become a growing area of interest in law practice in the Virgin Islands. Being in the Chambers, she noted, will place her in an ideal position to be part of its development. She added that the usual cases of judicial review also provide their fair share of excitement as well.

 “Because I am presently practicing public law and my remit is to advise the Government,  there are certain areas of law that I am not presently exposed to and do not practice, such as corporate law and trusts.  However, this does not mean that I am limiting myself, as there is plenty to do to keep me busy,” she said.

“The matters that we do include personal injury matter, mutual legal assistance from other jurisdictions, employment law, land law including conveyances and leases and tort,” are among the variation she said.

Prior to the 2007 Constitution coming into force, Vanterpool had also been exposed to criminal legal work, and had an opportunity to prosecute a few criminal matters, a task which she said was also good for learning.

One particular highlight of her practice thus far has been assisting with the 2007/2008 Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) mutual evaluation report for the VI. The AG’s Chambers is the central authority in the BVI for CFATF, the regional body which oversees the anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing regime of its member jurisdictions.

“That is also an important element of the work here. As the central authority, we monitor the legislative and other progress in the Virgin Islands on our measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in this jurisdiction.”

She said that the VI’s work in this area is significant because of the nature and size of the financial sector here and the importance of keeping abreast with global developments in this area. She said it is different, interesting and very important to our developing country.

 While the Senior Crown Counsel enjoys her occupation and career she admits that law is not her only passion.

“Being a lawyer is not who I am but one of the things I do,” said Vanterpool noting that she does pursue other hobbies and interest.

 “I love interior decorating. My family is very much into art and I have a deep appreciation for art as well”, she enthused.

She enjoys watching HGTV, singing with the praise team of the RT Methodist Church and is also involved with the Girl’s Brigade (Road Town Company).

As a young careered professional, Vanterpool said she is often concerned that some of the Territory’s young people sometimes miss the relationship between what they do when they are young and what they become later on in life.

“I think sometimes they do not focus their minds on what they want to do until after they graduate. At this stage, some are very confused and do not know what their next steps should be.

“At some point, you have to decide for yourself what you want to do and whatever you decide to do there is a path of training and development which will allow you to realize your goal once you apply yourself,” she said speaking directly to the young people and advising them that they can chose any career they want and not just the touted professions of doctors, lawyers or accountants.

Vanterpool also has a keen interest in Government and politics and noted that as the country develops there are several issues which require very serious consideration.

“There are laws that need to be reviewed and legislation that needs to be updated. This should be done with government’s full input,” said the lawyer.

“I would like us to pay attention to some critical issues that are still in my view not properly dealt with and one very broad area is the social life in our community. Social legislation has been slow to develop.  In contrast, a lot of time is spent looking at our economic development and sustainability,” she said, “but as the country grows, there are other areas which require our concentrated focus, including our social and physical environment.”

As for the future, Vanterpool envisages many things. Making a contribution to the development of the VI is a priority for the young attorney. She says she is currently keen on contributing to the development of the Territory’s public law jurisprudence and to that end she envisages that she will continue to serve in the Chambers and is not opposed to serving in a higher office there.

Vanterpool also toys with the idea of participating in the political landscape.

“I think if the situation and the timing are right, it is not something I would shy away from at all,” she said, “There is so much scope for shaping the policies adopted in the Virgin Islands at that level and making a real difference in the lives of Virgin Islanders.”

Her interests do not stop there. The dynamic young woman also sees herself embarking on one of the many ideas for business ventures she has mulling around in her mind. While she did not wish to specify, what is clear is that the sky seems to truly be the limit for this talented young Virgin Islander.