In April 1966, during my first week in articles, I was sent to Didcot Magistrates’ Court with a longstanding client of the firm who was facing a number of driving charges.

I met the client and his counsel and entered the tiny court. I had no experience, but somewhere in my mind I recalled that solicitors sat behind counsel in court.

I was mortified when the magistrate entered and asked my counsel ‘why is your instructing solicitor sitting in the dock?’.

John Miller and I might have made good partners!

David Speker, retired solicitor

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