Thirteen police station cases create 12 charged to court, 11 representation orders in magistrates’ court and one Crown court case. A ProcureCo would have to capture all duty work, and generate its own clients overnight (as that is where most work is) in several courts, not to mention covering police stations 24/7, to keep their advocates happy.

As soon as a chambers competes with solicitors, why would solicitors send clients to a competitor?

Barristers should ignore the ProcureCo model and promote their own expertise and benefits to solicitors. ProcureCos will result in less work for chambers, not more, because being a solicitor is a lot harder than most barristers appreciate.

Michael Robinson, solicitor-advocate, Emmersons Solicitors, Sunderland