Listen for the squeals

Jillian Kay's quotation (see [2000] Gazette 17 August, 18) of Lord Irvine's warm words about legal aid lawyers to the Yorkshire Business Forum would carry more conviction if the Lord Chancellor had not undermined them by telling a select committee they would know when his reforms were happening 'when you hear the squeals from the lawyers'.

It should also not pass without comment that Lord Irvine's remarks at the Lawworks evening, at which I was present, were addressed to the lawyers in the big commercial City firms who give up occasional free evenings to work at their local law centres.

Worthy as that work is, describing their decision to do pro bono work as being 'the hard choice' was not appreciated by those lawyers who dedicate their careers to social welfare work, knowing that they will be lucky if they ever see in their entire career the sort of incomes the city lawyers see in their first couple of years.

I know politicians have to tailor their comments to their audience; but Lord Irvine should not be surprised if lawyers who hear both messages are not impressed.

Richard Miller, acting director, Legal Aid Practitioners Group