THe personal touchHaving spent a depressing five minutes reading a leaflet produced by HSBC, our practice bankers, on the depressing future for conveyancing solicitors, it was refreshing to open my Gazette and read on the front page the comments from Brian Marson which bear out everything I have been saying to clients, estate agents and fellow conveyancing practitioners for the past few years [2001] Gazette, 5 January, 1.IT is a useful tool, but it is only that.

It can never replace the personal contact solicitors have with clients.I have spent the past few weeks sorting out problems between unmarried couples who have purchased properties using automated conveyancing schemes where they have not received the personal attention and advice as to their ownership of property, preparation of wills and possible powers of attorney.Clients are not only paying for our form filling skills, but the knowledge that we have acquired for our years of experience, and after 30 years as a conveyancer I am still meeting problems in conveyancing matters that are new to me.

I am sure I am not alone.The comment by Lucci Dammone that clients are reluctant to take time off work to visit a solicitor is a sad reflection on the public's conception of the work that is carried out by solicitors in what is surely the most important purchase of a client's life.Once again, it is up to the profession, and may I respectfully suggest the Law Society, to take a more robust attitude with the media to convince the public that technology is no substitute for the personal touch.Rosemarie Tiffen, Raggett Tiffen & Harries, Ongar, Essex