After selling my practice a few years ago I elected to work nine months a year on locum assignments and consultancy work for solicitors buying, selling or merging their firms. All went brilliantly for two years. Then the recession came and work dried up.

Two years ago l decided to seek full-time employment in any legal environment. I consulted professional CV writers, attended employment courses and was guided by a trust specialising in helping people find employment. I sent over 1,500 job applications and utilised other methods of securing work. All to no avail.

I applied for the entire range of jobs that I was (extremely) qualified to undertake: junior conveyancing posts through to senior commercial property positions; mixed posts involving property and non-contentious company/commercial work; office management; and practice development. Yet no interviews were secured.

My practising history has been impeccable, my past success at least very good, and I have had no medical problems. Indeed, I still compete for a senior Team Europe in a very physical sport. I am 59 years of age and hope to work within the profession for another 10 years or so.

Although I seek work in the Midlands or London, I am willing to consider relocating.

Today, a very experienced law agency partner informed me that, at my age, I was on the scrapheap as far as the legal profession is concerned. I was told that solicitors compartmentalise and stereotype to such a degree that I would not even make the job vacancy starting line.

Assuming this to be the case – namely that ageism is endemic within the profession – would the Law Society consider starting up a register of firms willing to employ the ‘older’ applicant?

Name and address supplied