It's a dog's life at Bevan Ashford

Yet another sign that the profession is going to the dogs comes from the Bristol office of Bevan Ashford, where solicitor Joanna Clarke is fostering Twig, a 19-month-old German Shepherd, as she trains as a guide dog.

Part of the schooling involves becoming familiar with everyday working environments and office routines - but not being able to find a normal environment, they ended up with a law firm.

In the morning, Ms Clarke drops off Twig at the local centre of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, and they return her in the afternoon, where - with the ready permission of the firm - she sits quietly under (and occasionally on top of) her desk until home time.

Such is her popularity, we understand, that some partners occasionally borrow Twig.

Ms Clarke tells us that this is the perfect solution for couples who do not want to leave a dog alone at home all day, but then after around a year, she will have to give Twig up.

'I'll probably cry for a week,' she says.