follow judicial leadFollowing the implementation of the Woolf Reforms, judges know pretty well all there is to know about the conduct and management of litigation cases.Therefore, the Law Society could consider abolishing the need for continuing professional development and doing away with expert panels.

It certainly seems to be the experience of many of those on panels to whom I have spoken that judges have little regard for their experience and expertise when giving directions in litigation for children act cases.Indeed, if the theory behind the greater involvement of the judiciary in the management of litigation is sound, there is no longer any need for any of us to specialise at all - and we could all go back to being general practitioners, leaving the judges to tell us precisely how to conduct our litigation.Perhaps there would even be a benefit in reducing the risk of us being sued by clients.

If all we were doing was following the instructions of judges, we could not be accused of negligence.Peter Ryder, Thrall Ryder with Heather Hosking Solicitors, Truro, Cornwall