Denis Cameron says that it is hard for sole practitioners to retire (see [2006] Gazette, 16 February, 13). None of the points he mentions looks particularly onerous to me.

As he says, about half the firms in the UK are sole practitioners, as am I. I practise competition and intellectual property law. It is a wonderful way to practise. For those who are able to do it without staff, it gives one the ability to practise 'pure law'. Imagine a life without management, partners, meetings and employees.


I am 44; I will probably choose to retire in my 70s. My father retired last year as a psychiatrist at the age of 76. The longer people work, the longer and happier they live, and we all know how good it is for the country/the pensions situation that we continue in paid work for as long was we can. In that sense, the more barriers to retirement the better.


I hope the Law Society will be taking to heart the spirit as well as the letter of our new anti-ageism laws and that solicitors will feel happy to work into their 70s, as is common in many US firms.


The difficulties of cessation that Mr Cameron mentions - such as buying run-off cover - are matters that solicitors can anticipate and for which provision can be made. Storing papers is not particularly difficult either. Whether in 2037 I will be involved in a cessation of my practice or a handover to one of my five children remains to be seen, but it is something for which all sole practitioners should plan.


Susan Singleton, Singletons, London