Good old days

Your recent focus on recruitment (see [2001] 23 August, 22) reminded me of when I was articled with Slaughter & May in 1957 following a chance introduction through a Leicester business friend of my father.

I was interviewed by Hilary Scott, who later became President of the Law Society.

We talked mainly about sport, and with no reservations about my rather lowly degree in classics I was accepted immediately.

He was a brilliant man to work for, very quick on his feet.

At one prospectus meeting, I had to whisper to him that he was talking about the wrong company.

With no hesitation whatsoever, he switched in full flow to the right company and no one else noticed.The final initiation of a young solicitor was tea at the Law Society with some stalwarts.

I thought I was doing well until one of them, hitherto silent, said 'Mr Jeffrey, you must not think that you are coming into the profession just to make money'.

With that encouragement, I have never looked back.JW Jeffrey, Godalming, Surrey