I was articled in 1952 to a local advocate in Hastings. Where he went, I went, and I was lucky enough to hear on a regular basis high-quality advocacy from fine solicitors, some very good barristers and, on occasion at Assizes, high-quality leaders. One listened and learned.

Granted one was not paid and I acquired much useful knowledge of the whereabouts of sandwich providers, as well as listening to my principal dealing with assorted matters and clients. That latter experience has stood me in good stead ever since.

These days trainee solicitors are deprived of similar opportunities on that sort of scale. To expect them to appear in court as fully fledged advocates is, as Kat Gibson rightly suggests, wholly unreasonable. Today’s pupil barrister still gets the experience I had in courtrooms. That experience is, I believe, vital to good advocacy.

Gerald Funnell, Non-practising solicitor, Hastings