Plenty of 5am study sessions and more work at home over the weekends have been part of a busy life for Dunedin police prosecutor Sergeant Kate Saxton over the past 10 months.
Sgt Saxton (30) was among seven law graduates admitted to the Bar in two ceremonies in the city yesterday.
In an address to the High Court, Sgt Saxton said she had been drawn to join the police towards the end of her initial University of Otago law studies.
But, after further thought, she had managed to resist the attraction of the ''red and white flashing lights'', and had completed the final year of her law degree, and a BA majoring in Japanese, before joining the police.
She had received a ''huge amount of support'', from her family and police colleagues, including Inspector Amelia Steel and Southern district police prosecution manager Senior Sergeant Glen McMurdo.
After becoming police prosecutor two years ago, Sgt Saxton decided to also undertake her professional legal studies to become fully qualified in law.
A great deal of hard work had been required over the past 10 months, on top of her busy full-time role with the police.
She had also wanted to ensure her family received enough of her time and support, she said in an interview.
She was ''really glad'' she had completed her professional studies and had been admitted to the Bar.
One key to success had been ''some pretty good time management skills'', she said.
''I'm really proud of my achievements and pretty excited about the future.''
Campbell Savage, who is Public Defender Southern and heads Dunedin's Public Defence Service Office, said it had been an honour to formally move Sgt Saxton's admission to the Bar.
The extra work she had done to complete her professional studies was ''impressive and shows real commitment'', he said.
Also admitted to the Bar in Dunedin yesterday were: Emma Auckram, Rebecca Barton, Cerridwen Bulow, Kelsey Brown, Charlotte Carr and Campbell Hodgson.
