In her latest column, the Law Society president urges us all to stand up and fight for access to justice against the threatened legal aid cuts. She writes: ‘This really is a process of genuine consultation; it is not a done deal and we still have all to play for’.

I don’t believe this. We are in danger of underestimating the government’s resolve. This is not a genuine consultation – it’s a slow, slippery slope sliding ever downward toward savage cuts.

Instead of consultation, we need confrontation. Instead of dancing to the government’s ‘process’, we need to build a strong negotiating position. Instead of talking, we need hard-nosed political bite. Justice secretary Ken Clarke is the last of the Westminster ‘big beasts’, and it will take more than Ms Lee’s call to arms to slay him.

So what’s the plan? Do we just go on about how unfair and damaging it all is? What to do?

Here’s a five point plan: (1) hire a PR expert who can make legal aid lawyers look good; (2) recruit a Michael Mansfield-type heavy-hitter to promote the cause; (3) request reinforcements from the City (City lawyers have always supported the good work of legal aid lawyers); (4) call the profession to direct action by exposing the public to the true worth of legally aided work; and (5) pray.

Christopher Digby-Bell , Law Society Council member, City of London; senior general counsel, Palmer Capital, London W1