A letter has landed on Obiter's desk from one Reginald Scree of Bog & Partners. A quick search of the Law Society's on-line directory of solicitors unsurprisingly suggests that this is a nom de plume - whatever, our Reginald has clearly decided it is time to get something off his chest.

'This ever greater emphasis on team-building and marketing sends shivers down my experienced spine,' the letter starts. 'Why oh why would I want to spend more time with the people I work with, and, even worse, my clients? Do they think I have nothing better to do?'


Mr Scree, it transpires, has been asked to provide details of his private life for the firm's Web site. 'Is nothing sacred, I ask you? They used to say that you had to give your blood to the firm, but now they want everything including details of your breakfast (a very nice muesli if you must know!).'


Who is interested in this stuff, he asks? 'I mean after all, I think back over my long career and I can ascertain numerous occasions when work came my way due to "my love of horse chestnuts", my desire to "retire early" or my ambition to "sell my soul to Satan to make Bog & Partners the most successful firm in the universe". I lie, of course. I think, and this may surprise you, it may have had to do with something called my expertise.'


Mr Scree says that if we send him a cheque, he will 'moan on and on about the profession and the way that it is going' on a regular basis. At Obiter, however, we think he should provide the service pro bono.