Hats off to our bewigged friends at London-based Cloisters, the only lawyers to provide us with an April Fool press release.

'We wondered how we could make our lawyers and our paperwork stand out,' it said, announcing the launch of the chambers' own perfume.

'A Cloisters fragrance is the answer.

In future, clients, courts, and opposing parties will be immediately aware of our presence before they've even seen us or read our papers.' It also said that it had devised a room spray for its conference suite.

The Gazette's own article (see [2004] Gazette, 1 April, 4) - about calls by the Master of the Rolls to abolish the costs system - has, meanwhile, caused a degree of consternation.

Apparently, 'people who should know better' have been contacting Lord Phillips' private office to find out more.

But to the lawyer (from Websters) who phoned in, having spent half a day investigating the story, to ask whether it was a spoof and the individual at a firm of costs draftsmen (south-east based Kain Knight) who was clearly worried about the prospect - don't worry, your secrets are safe with us.