In these cash-strapped times, it is good to hear that solicitors are still prepared to spend a quid or two on cultural pursuits. The annual exhibition of the Law Society’s art group, which featured paintings and sculptures by solicitors, had a record year in terms of the works sold.

This year, which saw the group’s 50th exhibition, there was a special prize on the theme of ‘Legal Britain’, won by solicitor Ingrid Bax for her painting ‘City lawyer Canary Wharf’ (pictured), which the judge praised for its treatment of light.

The sight of suited and booted lawyers milling around the tube station will be an all–too–familiar scene for many readers, though from the slightly smug look on the subject’s face it looks like he has been unaffected by the sweeping redundancies and general woe that has befallen the Square Mile. He must be an insolvency lawyer.

'Take Him Down' artwork Obiter must add its own commendation for John Joseph’s impressively censorious ‘Take him down’ (left), a pale admonishing finger sculpted atop a judge’s bench.