Certifiable behaviour

Over the past month, there have been a number of letters from practitioners dissatisfied with the performance of the Legal Service Commission.

Recently, the commission has shown some enthusiasm for revoking, as opposed to just discharging, certificates, and we have all had to cope with emergency funding being withdrawn following the loss by the commission of the substantive applications, but a letter I received recently from the commission took the biscuit.

The letter stated that 'in view of the fact that my client's expenses appeared to exceed his income, the commission was considering revoking his funding certificate.

My client is a full-time student relying entirely on student grants and loans.

Although I have to say that this is not the commission's last word on the subject, it really did make me wonder which planet the writer was on, although I am sure we can all think of one.Joanna Orlebar-Reid, Zeckler & Co, London W1