Firms must insure

I have some sympathy with the points made by I R Hale of French & Company on the issue of the proposed rule against suing assistant solicitors, but I believe that he has overlooked, or at least failed to mention, one key point (see [2000] Gazette, 5 October, 18-20).

Largely, firms of solicitors can insure against loss caused by negligent assistants.

I appreciate the deductible is vulnerable but to a degree the amount of this - the voluntary excess - is within firms' capability to control.

It is for firms to assess the risk they pose, and the amount of money they should spend on insurance cover.

Assistants, however, cannot individually insure themselves against employers' claims.

The playing field is not equal, and the situation is invidious.

Richard Adams, Crosse & Crosse, Exeter, Devon