I am sick and tired of hearing family solicitors criticised, and I was particularly unimpressed by the results of a recent survey carried out on client's perceptions of their family solicitors (see [2004] Gazette, 16 April, 1).

Family solicitors do a very good job in what are very difficult circumstances. On the whole, none of our clients wants to see us. They are forced into seeing a solicitor usually because of a breakdown in their relationship with their spouse, partner or another member of their family. They turn to a solicitor as a last resort and frequently too late in the day.


In my experience, clients - whether paying privately or publicly funded - are: demanding of time and energy; angry and feeling hurt and let down; selfish and self centred. They believe they could not possibly be in the wrong, are insensitive to anyone else's views and feelings, and have unrealistic expectations.


They shop around trying to find a solicitor who will support their point of view whether it is right, wrong or indifferent (have you sat and listened to someone only to find out that they are well down the track in complex proceedings and want half an hour's free advice to see if you come up with something better than their own solicitor?).


In addition, they live financially beyond their means or have no money at all, and do not want to pay - although they expect you to drop everything and do an enormous amount of work at their request and criticise you if you don't.


Family solicitors on the whole do excellent work with difficult and sometimes truculent clients who can be unappreciative and critical if they do not get their own way.


How often does the family solicitor listen patiently, receive the brunt of the client's emotional (and sometimes angry) feelings, and act as a buffer trying to persuade an angry or emotionally damaged client to accept a more reasonable point of view?


Occasionally we have a client who is nice and remembers to say thank you at the end of the case. That's all it takes.


Hilary Dunn, Fieldings Porter, Bolton, Lancashire