Employment disputes must rank alongside family disputes as the most emotional proceedings a person can instigate. Both involve the potential breakdown of a relationship which may have lasted many years (or been expected to do so), and a situation where the loss of trust and confidence may leave a person feeling incredibly isolated.

This is one very good reason for the tribunals system to be as non-adversarial as possible. Sadly, the reality is that a degree of acrimony often exists between the parties’ representatives, and this may not always be in the best interests of the clients. As a newly qualified solicitor, whose first seat was in employment law (with a focus on equal pay) and last in criminal litigation, I began to quip, during my time at Crown court, that it was nice to finally get some non-contentious experience.

I am sure Mr Cox (letters, 15 April) will agree that the true irony is that trade unions and their lawyers, and firms of solicitors operating on a ‘no win, no fee’ retainer, are supposedly on the same side when representing claimants in equal pay cases. I agree with Mr Cox that the trade unions have done much over the years to reduce the gender pay gap, but I am sure he will accept that they have also made errors on occasion.

Perhaps it is time to put such observations about each other aside, and concentrate on achieving the best result for clients.

Philip Warnes, Harrogate