Solicitors should do more civil advocacy, urges top judge

Solicitors should step up the amount of advocacy they take on in the civil courts to increase profits, the new president of the Association of District Judges (ADJ) has urged.

District Judge Jeremy Cochrane - who sits at Derby Combined Court Centre - said he plans to use his year to 'bring solicitors back to civil advocacy'.

He said solicitors were reluctant to take on advocacy as they were concerned about the effect it would have on their relationships with clients.

'Many become so close to their clients - particular in the area of family work - that they find it difficult to be objective or, in some cases, give objective and possibly unpalatable advice,' he said.

'As a result they lack the confidence to represent the client where the result may not be entirely to the client's liking.'

Paula Rohan