TWO Wanganui mates got to celebrate their legality on home turf yesterday. Claire Coe and Sarah Little were admitted to the bar in front of a packed courtroom at the Wanganui District Court. And Claire's Dad, Paul Coe, had a front row seat. Mr Coe, a partner with Wanganui law firm Armstrongand Barton, was given the rare and prestigious honour of moving his daughter's admission to the bar as a barrister and solicitor. And the coincidences didn't stop there. Ms Coe's mother was a part-time stenographer at the court. Mr Coe, a lawyer since 1978, said it was a great day and he was very proud of his daughter. Lifelong school friend and former Sacred Heart Girls' College student Sarah Little said she always knew she was going to be a lawyer, especially after her days at the Global Young Leaders Conference in New York. Now she is into her second week as a family law lawyer at local law firm Horsley Christie. Ms Coe said her Dad had "a little" to do with her career path, but she had also had an inkling that she would head in that direction. She has worked with the legal team at Child Youth and Family in Wellington for the past two years but would like to move into her preferred profession as a lawyer soon. In his admission speech, Justice Allen said the pair had reflected true and honest conduct and were deemed fit and proper persons to be lawyers. "It's one of the great days of your lives," he said. The pair, who both studied at Victoria University in Wellington, both had high academic records. Ms Coe was a dux at college, and studied law and arts degree while majoring in Japanese. Ms Little studied law and arts and majored in criminology and education. Ms Little, a devout Christian, would also become involved in church activities in her spare time, Justice Allen said. Ms Little's father, Roger, said his daughter was very "tenacious and focused" and would make a fantastic lawyer. PICTURED: It was a family affair at the Wanganui District Court yesterday when Wanganui women, Claire Coe (second from left) and Sarah Little were admitted to the bar. Ms Coe's father, lawyer Paul Coe, has the honour of formally admitting his daughter to the bar, while Justice Allen, right, looks on.
