Having just read my Gazette (26 June) I am not sure whether to laugh or cry. I read that our insurance is going to go up by 25% (if we can get insurance at all); we have to raise our professional standards but reduce our fee expectations; we have to merge to survive; we are under threat of a prison sentence for failing to meet our money-laundering obligations; our websites are useless; and, oh, by the way, we really should not be asking for bank loans (if only we had been more financially prudent and forecast the credit crunch!).

On the front page we read that ‘Solicitors are more stressed than usual’ – well is it any wonder? Is anybody on our side?