Friday 31 October 2014

Legal Work Experience

An overview of work experience in general and at Wainwright & Cummins specifically, by a recent work experience student...

Studying Law at University is great but putting what you have learnt into practice is difficult unless you gain valuable legal work experience. University gives you all the tools you need and an internship in a legal capacity gives you a chance to apply those tools and understand what life after studying is like.

Wainwright & Cummins Solicitors gave me the opportunity to gain valuable legal experience. I have worked in both the Criminal and Prison Law departments respectively. I had a great understanding about Criminal Law as it was my favourite module during my first year studying Law LLB (Hons) at City University London. The greatest thing about the experience was I had to do a variety of different tasks and every day was different which enabled me to enhance my skills.

I am very grateful for the internship opportunity and this has given me the additional enthusiasm to continue pursuing a legal career.

A big thank you to everyone at Wainwright & Cummins Solicitors for being very welcoming and making me feel as part of their team. Also, thank you for all the advice about how to progress with my legal career which I definitely will follow.

A special thank you to Kenan and Catherine for supervising me through the process and giving me a variety of different tasks which has definitely enhanced my experience as well as developing my skills.


Zaheer Mahmood

Thursday 16 October 2014

Our Response

Wainwright & Cummins Solicitors response to the MoJ Legal Aid Consultation


RESPONSE TO ANNETTE COWER AT THE MOJ – MOJ CONSULTATION PAPER

Dear Ms. Cower,

RE: MOJ consultation

Further to our various responses to Consultation papers from the MOJ concerning Legal Aid reform, we now enclose for your attention a copy of the recent Otterburn response which reflects this firm's views about the present Consultation. You will be aware that we spent a considerable amount of time working with Otterburn to assist his team in coming to their views. We very much now share his concerns that the MOJ did not fully take into account his and our observations when determining the question of whether to proceed with Dual Contracts (the two tier system) and further fee cuts:-

In particular we very much agree that:-

  1. The MOJ should not proceed further without proper research and analysis. It is our contention that the MOJ have not in any event factored in the cuts to date and the fall in volume in determining their present position.  Indeed our submission is that the MOJ already have their savings.
  1. The large size of some of the urban procurement areas would inevitably increase costs for firms, if they were to successfully tender, and this increase would not be justified by the dubious issue of greater volume.  We very much support the view that under the current proposals a significant number of good quality medium size and large suppliers will fail to secure duty contracts.  This will clearly lead to a weakened supply base and immense difficulties when the MOJ considers further tenders in four years time.  Indeed there is clear evidence (the PA Consulting Group) that only the smallest Firms who are fleet footed may be able to remain sustainable.  Volume at increased cost is not a panacea.
  1. We share the view that the projected gross fees for one fee earner of £83,000 per annum is unrealistic.  We agree that the base costs for any fee earner undertaking legal aid work will be around £40-£50,000, but at present it is an exceptional fee earner who achieves a target in excess of £75,000 pa.  To achieve true profitability, projected fee should be in excess of 83k per annum which suggests that appropriate rates and volume should be achieved.  Clearly this is unrealistic when volume is far from guaranteed and the rates of pay continue to fall. We agree that the way forward is to not impose an artificial fee target, but simply to ensure appropriate supervisor ratios and peer review to achieve quality. 
  1. We agree with Otterburn that the assumptions drawn by KPMG are erroneous.  On any view, should this firm be granted a duty contract, we would certainly not consider giving away own client work.  Moreover we cannot accept that a “break even figure” would enable us to invest appropriately to meet the requirements of a duty contract. 
  1. We also agree that the risk of managing a business in such constrained  circumstances is disproportionately high and the likelihood of access to appropriate levels of capital is and will continue to be very difficult.  Again we also agree that we have no control over projected volume increases.
  1. We agree with Otterburn that a minimum of a 5% profit margin is required and in reality it should be much nearer 10% if we are to attract appropriate levels of funding from our Lenders.  We agreed that the MOJ should take a more balanced and cautious view.  In our view the MOJ should not have imposed further cuts in March 2014 before allowing the Market to consolidate if indeed that is the way forward. 
In conclusion we would urge that the MOJ listen to the profession and abandon the concept of the Two Tier System. In any event the increase in bureaucracy and costs associated with Dual contracts does not sit comfortably with present Government policy.  We urge further research and if there is to be consolidation of the market, it must be undertaken with the full consent of the profession. The MOJ must fully recognise the fragility of the supplier base, and work with the Profession to ensure that the public have full confidence in our Criminal Justice system.

We look forward to working with you in the future. 

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Wainwright

WAINWRIGHT & CUMMINS LLP

On the Banks of the Rhone...

On Friday evening a few souls remained in the office after all had headed off for the weekend. Seated at desks all too familiar strewn with files, papers and computer monitors these hard workers were all set for a long evening. However there was an expectant and excited atmosphere as Sebastian had transformed the Prison Law department transplanting dishes of cuisine rarely seen other than in the best Parisian restaurants onto files conveniently closed and other flattish surfaces. Cheeses, cold salamis, Baba Ghanoush, Guacamole and homemade soda bread were all on the menu to accompany a dozen different bottles of vintage wines: Grace, her friend, Bo, Duchess, Danielle, Anneka, Sebastian, Ed, Polly and I were taken on a tour gastronomique fantastique down the Rhone.

I have to admit that I do like a good cheese and have no qualms about those mature pungent runny varieties or those made from unpasteurised milk or goats milk. I have always kept to my maxim that the best cheeses do not have a use by date but rather a use after date. Of course there will be limitations but they are rarely if ever reached. The selection of six fromages on offer were all good and were accordingly dispatched with considerable skill and ease.

The main purpose of the evening was the tasting of wine and to guide us Sebastian provided a menu complete with details of the different vineyards, the soil structure, the climatic potential of a particular area and the grape type and oh yes the price – range from £9.50 - £32 a bottle. We also had a geography lesson thrown in – where exactly is the Rhone, which way does it go, population, history and major cities. From a French perspective it flows from Lake Geneva via Lyon down to Avignon and out into the Med. My favourite white was the Lirac Blanc La Fermade Domaine Maby 2013 and red the Roaix L’As du Pique Domaine Pique Basse 2011: both on the modest (?) end of the price range. Due to a lack of spittoons my discernment may have diminished somewhat during the evening but my memory assures me that all those wines tasted were of the highest quality.


The company was excellent and all were in high spirits when I left shortly after 11pm to stagger home, fortunately without incident. Highly recommended!

- Danny Lyness