I read with sympathy Tony Guise’s plea for more support for those about to enter into partnership (see [2008] Gazette, 26 June, 11). This is a crucial time, when lawyers are making the leap from fee-earning employees to employers with wide management responsibilities.

Some of us have argued for years that we should make such training obligatory (the Law Society of Scotland requires all those in this position to undergo a two-day training course). The fact is that, otherwise, the vast majority of the profession will not attend.

I and others have conducted such courses through various organisations, and know that it is impossible to attract substantial numbers. A handful attend who are already committed to good management. If the Law Society offered such courses, they would meet the same fate.

The Law Society does, however, have a proactive role to play. The Law Management Section offers conferences on topics such as quality management, finance, HR and IT. Law Society publishing has a range of management-related publications suitable for new partners, and my volume in this series, New Partner’s Guide to Management, offers an overview.

Tony Guise is right, however, in saying that there is no substitute for focused, directly delivered training.