I take issue with Jonathan McAreavey's mathematics on the referral fees ballot (see [2004] Gazette, 21 October, 16).


If you discount the 20% of solicitors who are non-practising, on holiday or sick, and deduct 30% for those who are not in private practice, take off a further 30% for those employed in City and national firms (who would not consider paying referral fees anyway and could not care if anyone else does) and reduce by 3% for papers lost in the post, you are left with a 100% turnout.


Of these, 26.5% are probably paying referral fees already, so that the 73.5% who voted against represent 100% of those who are not already committed.


To my mind, this shows a strong response from those who are affected by the ruling.



Richard Engel, Max Engel & Co, Northampton