I read your report on London Business School economist Professor James Dow's view that it would be better to replace the partnership structure with a corporate structure as the latter is more efficient, at least in relation to 'simpler' legal services (see [2006] Gazette, 30 March, 8).

Apparently the efficiency comes since with corporate structures the standard of entrant can be lower. Partnerships, by contrast, seek out 'those who are above average (with the) consequence that partnerships tend to be small, and of high quality'.


The implication is that standards are unimportant; in fact, if I have understood his argument, it is that price should be more important than quality. The result would be a dumbing down of the profession (if it could still be called a profession in such circumstances); a reduction in service and responsibility (because in the corporate structure, the organisation would seek to avoid liability for errors, and individuals would have less of a motive to keep standards high); and in the end not just a cheaper, but a poorer, service.


Alan Williams, Lindfield, West Sussex