Do well, but remember to do good. Great advice to a newly qualified lawyer. But what does it mean? Well, the American Bar Association defines ‘good’ as doing 50 hours of pro bono work a year. Some US firms say 140 hours. Our own Law Society will not be drawn on a number.

Now Michael Gove is hinting that he wants to make a basic minimum of pro bono work compulsory as the price to be paid by the profession for being allowed to work in and around the justice system. Surely, compulsory voluntary work is a contradiction in terms?

Christopher Digby-Bell, London W1

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