I write in support of the proposition put forward by Joyce Glasser, observing very real evidence of ageism within the legal profession (see [2004] Gazette, 16 April, 12).

It is difficult to argue against the fact that someone who has spent time in the professional workplace, in industry, the police or whatever, will bring to their apprenticeship as a trainee solicitor a greater understanding of the world than one whose experience has been confined to a role as house prefect, swimming club chairman and a single-gap year spent, for example, as a chalet maid in Switzerland, or a barman on Australia's Gold Coast.

Not only do mature trainees bring real-life experience and long-term professional experience to a job at the bottom rung of their chosen profession, they bring a dedication to doing their best, which might not necessarily be apparent among the cohort who have entered via the school, college, legal practice course route.

Put yourself in the position of career-change entrants.

Imagine what drives them.

They have relinquished a far greater degree of security and financial reward than any 18-year-old could possibly have.

I am not arguing that the older trainee deserves special treatment because of that dedication.

However, in one selection, a firm can benefit itself by the undisputed higher calibre of the trainee it hires - and can be seen to making a contribution to the wider community.

Also as a postscript, hiring older trainees this year and next could perhaps insulate a firm from the inevitable accusations of age discrimination if the present endemic dismissive treatment of older trainees by the profession is continuing when the legislation comes into force.

When you are called on to face an employment tribunal, it will be much harder to argue that your firm refused an older trainee purely on merit if you have never previously hired anyone older than 25 to that position.

I must declare an interest.

I am one of the above-mentioned trainees.

My own experience is that I gave up a lucrative journalistic career to spend a majority of my savings retraining for a profession that signally demonstrates that it does not want me or my kind.

Martin Hedges, London