The call by Katy Manley for a professional negligence panel looks like a piece of special pleading (see (2006) Gazette, 22 June, 14). As a general practitioner, I have not had any anxieties in dealing with substantial claims against solicitors. More importantly, and regrettably, such claims can arise from any area of practice. Can a 'negligence specialist' really know all of these?


The work that Ms Manley identifies is surely appropriate for any competent litigation lawyer. Calls for over-specialisation should be resisted, especially as they may diminish the available pool of practitioners.


Roger Sceats, DR Sceats, London