Peter Carter-Ruck states that the wearing of wigs and gowns in court 'lends a certain dignity and seriousness to the occasion' (see [2003] Gazette, 31 July, 16).

However, as an ex-solicitor who now makes his living teaching English to foreign lawyers, I would no doubt invite an attitude of amused disbelief were I to advance that theory in response to the frequently-asked question, 'why do English lawyers wear those silly white wigs in court?' Although it might make a change from my equally unconvincing stock reply 'because it's traditional'.

Rupert Haigh, Forum Legal Language Services, Helskinki, Finland