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In the criminal courts, wigs do confer an element of anonymity, but I am happy appearing bare headed in any court.

At least if we...In the criminal courts, wigs do confer an element of anonymity, but I am happy appearing bare headed in any court.

At least if we have the option to wear wigs I can be bare headed and proud rather than adopting the bizarre trappings of a profession that is perceived to be remote and arrogant.

That perception may be unfair but I would not like to be associated with it.

However, I must take exception to Roy Amlots comments.

A pupil or inexperienced barrister can appear in any court with minimal advocacy training, no life experience, and no advocacy experience.

So much for the wig being a mark of constant experience in advocacy.

Many counsel rarely appear in court and the Bars standard of advocacy does not differ greatly from that of solicitor-advocates.

Solicitor-advocates have experience and training hurdles placed before them to ensure that our side of the profession will not be embarrassed by poor advocacy.

I suspect that I have as much trial experience as most barristers of call similar to my admission, and I have only once been beaten in court by counsel.

I have respect for the Bar, and it would be nice to see the Bars spokesmen reciprocate that respect.

There may well be incompetent solicitors who dabble in advocacy and I can assure anyone that I have been opposed by apparently incompetent counsel before now.

For the client, who is better to represent him the solicitor who prepares the case knowing that if it is ill-prepared he stands or falls alone at trial, or the solicitor who can blame the barrister? The Bar will survive and prosper by the strength of its practitioners, not by differen-tiating fancy dress.

If I were given the choice I would do away with all court robes, except a simple robe for the judge and leave wigs for Bar ceremonials but never in court.

Andrew Dalton, solicitor-advocate (all higher courts), White Dalton Partnership, Dunstable