Andrew Cummings is Queen’s Counsel

Andrew Cummings has become the fifth Vincentian lawyer to be appointed a Queen’s Counsel, and will trade in his cotton robe for silk.{{more}}

Cummings received his letter of appointment on February 18, and told SEARCHLIGHT earlier this week that he considered his appointment a tremendous honour.

Cummings, 57, who says that he sees himself as a servant of the people, has been practicing law for 33 years, all of those in the chambers of Hughes and Cummings.

Originally from Sion Hill, Cummings grew up in New Montrose, and is the second of three children born to his father Saville and his late mother Ercelle Cummings.

He told SEARCHLIGHT that when he looks back at his early school days at Grammar School, a career in law may have been inevitable.

“I always loved debates, discussions and such in secondary school, so it was almost natural,” Cummings, a married father of four said.

He recalled that when he started his university education at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies, a law faculty did not exist.

Then in 1970, along with other Vincentians like John Cato, Theodore Browne, and Parnel Campbell QC, he was part of the first law class at the campus.

Cummings credits the late EAC Hughes, whom he said had a tremendous impact on his career in law.

After first doing an apprenticeship at Hughes’ Chambers, Cummings ended up being the only partner that Hughes had in his over 50 years of practice.

As he looks back, Cummings said that he has enjoyed the many occasions that he has spoken at various graduations, and other events organized by voluntary groups, something that has given him much pleasure during his career.

So as Andrew Cummings QC looks forward, he says that he is still as motivated as he always was, and is looking forward to many more years of service, once his health allows. (KJ)