Lucy Wandrum is an Associate & Prison Law Supervisor in our Prison Law Department, based in our Manchester office. Lucy has vast experience in the representation of prisoners appearing before the Parole Board and regularly handles high profile cases. She often represents clients who are deemed to be violent offenders and who are subject to both Determine and Indeterminate prison sentences. In addition, Lucy specialises in Independent Adjudication Hearings, Recategorisation, Applications for Home Detention Curfews, Prison Transfers and/or Progression and IPP Termination applications.
Prior to joining Reeds, Lucy worked as a Prison Law Supervisor at another firm of Solicitors. Lucy has around 16 years experience working in the area of Prison Law. She has established a large client base not only working with our own clients but also clients who are regularly recommended to her.
Lucy’s role see hers regularly attending prisons throughout the UK to take instructions from clients; and drafting representations in support of Parole, re-release for prisoners that are subject to licence recall and support in progression for Parole and throughout the prisoners sentences. She also regularly attends Parole Hearing and provides expert advice and representation before the Parole Board.
Lucy is often instructed to assist clients with complex matters, including assisting clients with mental health issues and personality disorders / traits.
As an experienced Prison Law Advisor Lucy is an excellent communicator and always has the Client’s best interests at heart. Her patience, understanding and commitment to her clients is second to none and always at the highest level.
Our clients see Lucy as a highly professional woman with a down to earth, straight talking, attitude. She always provides honest and straightforward advice. Lucy approaches each case with great enthusiasm and has a real passion in relation to ensuring that the right decision is reached for all her clients
Specialist Parole Solicitor – EDS, Lifer and IPP
Lucy deals with Parole’s for a whole range of sentences, including Extended Determinate sentence and also Indeterminate Parole cases, including IPP’s and Life sentences. She understands the importance of securing Parole for prisoners and their families and understands how stressful the process can be. With Lucy’s kind nature she will take the time to listen to the clients view and work together to find the best way to secure release.
Parole Board v M: Lucy Secures Parole on IPP License after Further Violent Offence
Case of an IPP who had been recalled for further offences committed on licence. He remained in custody for an extended period of time to serve a new sentence but then once served he went before the Parole Board again. Lucy assisted with detailed representation to the Parole Board and with her expertise was able to secure Parole on IPP licence. This was assisted with expert witnesses who were independently instructed and who were greatly supportive of the prisoners release.
Parole Board V A: Lucy Secures a Move to Open Conditions Pre-Tariff and Parole on Tariff for a Life Sentenced Prisoner
This was a high profile case that had significant media coverage and a high level of victim engagement. Lucy assisted the prisoner, who was serving a mandatory life sentence to secure a move to open conditions pre-tariff and then went onto further represent the client before the Parole Board at the on tariff review, where release was then secured.
Parole Board v K: Lucy Secures Release for Prisoner Appealing Against Conviction
This was a complex case of an Extended Determinate sentence, who maintained his innocence in relation to the offence he was convicted of. This prevented him from engagement in specific offending behaviour work due to unsuitability, which can affect the risk assessments made by the Parole Board. Lucy went onto secure the release of this client at the first Parole Review.
Recategorisation Solicitor
Lucy is a very experienced Prison Lawyer also dealing with the Recategorisation of determinate sentenced prisoners, including standard determinate and extended determinate sentences.
Lucy assists in sentence planning in preparation of the Recategorisation Process, including obtaining and considering OASys risk assessments, sentence plan details and assisting in access to specific offending behaviour programme that may form the Recategorisation decision.
When the prisoner is then eligible for the review, she assists in preparing detailed representations in support of the downgrade in security status.
Lucy specialises in downgrading for all security categorisations, including Cat A reviews, Category B to C, and then C to D which is the lowest security category that a prisoner can be held in, which is open whereby the prisoner has access to the public and can be released on temporary licence.
Application by A: Lucy Secures a Move to Open COnditions for Prison with Significant Negative Security Intelligence
This was an EDS prisoner who applied for a move to open conditions but due to negative security intelligence. Lucy assisted in obtaining the reasons for the refusal, the subject access request (relevant security information) which was relied upon and submitted representations in relation to an appeal which was granted and the prisoner was then moved to Category D, open conditions.
Application made by J: Lucy Secures a Move to Open Conditions with an Oustanding Sentence Planning Objective
This was a determinate sentenced prisoner who was refused Category D due to an outstanding offending behaviour programme. Lucy assisted in challenging the prison on the suitability of the programme, which resulted in a success application for open conditions.
Testimonials
“Reeds solicitors are a great law firm I have been with them on 2 parole hearings, Lucy Wandrum is a great solicitor she helped get me to a open prison and she wasn’t shy on my parole hearing she helped me right out. I am also using reeds solicitors I.E Lucy on my next parole to get out. I would strongly recommend Reeds law firm and Lucy Wandrum they have a great web site to check them out look at there feed back, you can also find them in the inside times news paper. I am serving a life sentence and i can honestly say they are an outstanding law firm thanks so much for your help.”
(Client, 2024)
