The Lawyer Inquiry: Gary Summers

Gary Summers was born in Plymouth in 1958. He recently left 3 Gray's Inn Square to join Magrath & Co as head of its criminal department.

What was your first job?

Assistant storeboy at Travellers Fare Catering Stores in Plymouth Station.



What was your first ever salary as a lawyer?

£4,500.



What would you have done if you hadn't become a lawyer?

Hotel manager for BR Hotels (reality not fantasy).



Which law could you live without?

Section 34-37 Criminal Justice Public Order Act 1994.



What was your most embarrassing professional moment?

After Xmas celebrations I got up with a dreadful hangover to go to the Old Bailey to make a speech in an armed robbery case. I suffered a personal hiccup attack during the Crown's speech which miraculously stopped when I rose to make mine.



What car do you drive?

Vauxhall Frontera.



Which famous person would you like to go out with?

Female - Claudia Schiffer; male - Nelson Mandela.



Where would you go to eat?

Le Caprice.



What's the best thing on TV?

All Creatures Great and Small on UK Gold.



Which movie do you wish you'd appeared in?

All the President's Men.



What's your most often-worn piece of clothing?

My sailing shoes.



What book(s) are you reading at the moment?

The Law Society's franchising books.



What is your all-time favourite record?

Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers.



What piece of advice would you give to anyone entering the profession now?

Do not base your whole career on publicly-funded work. If you have a conscience do pro bono work.



What do you like about yourself?

"I get knocked down, I get up again." Nothing or no-one puts me down for long.



What do you hate about yourself?

My body does not look like Arnold Schwarzenegger.



Where would you most like to be right now?

Skippering the lead yacht in the Whitbread round-the-world yacht race.