The V.I. Department of Education has announced the appointment of Sharnelle M. Samuel Esq. as its new legal counsel. In appointing Samuel, Commissioner LaVerne Terry said, “In her role as legal counsel for the department, Attorney Samuel will be charged with a variety of special assignments of a highly responsible policy making/advisory nature, including preparing and rendering legal opinions on education law, Virgin Islands law and federal laws affecting public elementary and secondary students and employees. As my advisor, she will be responsible for reviewing contracts and interagency agreements for legal sufficiency and issuing advisory opinions on my behalf as well as for the members of the department‘s leadership.”
The attorney brings a varied wealth of experience in conflict resolution, examining procedural and substantive legal issues, interpreting statutory law, and addressing contractual and legislative matters. Prior to her appointment, she was a senior law clerk to the presiding judge of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, served as judicial law clerk to the chief judge for the 8th Circuit Court of Michigan and evaluation lead for the Department of Health’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Program.
She holds ajuris doctorawarded with distinctionfrom Thomas M. Cooley Law Schoolin Lansing, Michigan, where her area of concentration was constitutional law and civil rights. She also holds an Associates of Arts in Business Management Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in computer information systems, both from the University of the Virgin Islands.She has authored several articles, including: “Consumer Protections Will Not Sink the Cruise Ship Industry” {Thomas M. Cooley Law Review, V23, N3-2006}, “New Magistrate Rules in Superior Court” {Virgin Islands Bar Journal, V13, I1, Spring 2010}, and “Expunging a Criminal Record” {Virgin Islands Bar Journal, V13, I1, Spring 2010}.
Additionally, she holds memberships with the Virgin Islands Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Arbitration Association A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Fellows Program, United Way of St. Croix Board of Governors, Thomas M. Cooley Alumnae Association, University of the Virgin Islands Alumnae Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., St. Croix Alumnae Chapter.
Samuel believes that her comprehensive exposure and experience relating to various areas of law will allow her to effectively consider issues affecting VIDE. She looks forward to providing legal support to the department as it continues to provide quality education for the students of the Virgin Islands.
