Mr Digby-Bell’s letter of 11 February, continuing the debate about time-based charging, suggests that clients whose matters proceed in a manner without complication should subsidise the transactions of other clients where problems may occur.

Surely whether a quote for a matter is given or not, the fee must be justified according to the usual criteria of what is a proper and reasonable charge for those instructions.

I was brought up in the profession to understand that there is one rule that you must always follow and, if you do, you will rarely find yourself at odds with your professional obligations. That rule is that you must always put the interests of your client before your own interests. There is no suggestion that Mr Digby-Bell would do anything else – but how does his proposal align with that principle, which I sincerely hope still holds good if we wish to be regarded by our clients as belonging to a trustworthy profession?

Richard Tinn, Partner, Richard Tinn Solicitors, Boston, Lincolnshire