How I enjoyed the item 'Public access fear' (see [2007] Gazette, 7 June, 5).


I see that the senior branch considers it 'undesirable for barristers to be descending directly into the marketplace'.



Says it all, doesn't it? I think most of us at times would like to stay up in the ivory tower away from the grubbiness of the marketplace with demanding and often uncouth lay clients, who might not even pay our bills and cannot be forced to do so by any rules of professional conduct.



Good luck, I suppose, to those who manage to engineer such a pleasant lofty lifestyle.



And I wonder whether we shall, in future, be expected to pay referral fees to counsel's chambers for the privilege of being on their panels, if direct access is expanded?



John Ball, Falmouth, Cornwall