Law firms replying to last year's Gazette legal aid survey indicated that they were pessimistic about the coming year - yet nothing could have prepared them for what was to come.

Those fighting the legal aid corner now look back and see 2003 as the year of the consultation paper, mostly mooting cuts to solicitors' pay.

This, combined with the politicians' belief that legal aid is a 'gravy train', has done little to inspire practitioners' enthusiasm for the future.

Our latest research shows the pressure is taking its toll, with the advice deserts the Law Society and practitioner groups have been warning about appearing everywhere as three quarters of firms regularly turn clients away and more disillusioned practices drop out.

Legal aid solicitors are among the most conscientious in the profession and most are committed to helping society's needy.

However, the research sounds fresh warning bells that they now take the view - as one firm said in its response - that 'enough is enough'.

More changes are afoot for 2004.

The Legal Services Commission will seize responsibility for setting rates of pay, and the Department for Constitutional Affairs is fine-tuning a study into supply and demand.

Legal aid solicitors are now hoping that the DCA will use those findings to back up a case for more cash from the Treasury in the next spending review - and that if it succeeds, the LSC will spend the extra money wisely.