I congratulate the Law Society on producing statistics in support of the proposition put forward by the Young Solicitors Group (YSG) for some time - namely that young solicitors are turning away from legal aid work in droves (see [2004] Gazette, 25 March, 1).

This point has been at the heart of our (and the Society's) campaign on legal aid from the start, and such research is overdue.

As the representational group for young solicitors, the YSG has been active in trying to tackle what will shortly become a crisis for the Legal Services Commission.

We, too, submitted evidence to the constitutional affairs select committee, and have met the Department for Constitutional Affairs minister, David Lammy, and the Legal Services Commission chief executive, Claire Dodgson, to discuss the problems.

In addition, we have lobbied hard all MPs and the minster for lifelong learning, further & higher education, Alan Johnston, to gain grants and student loans for those seeking to undertake legal aid work when they qualify.

At the same time, we have encouraged all stakeholders - the Law Society, the govern-ment and law schools - to place greater emphasis on the teaching of legal aid subjects and the promotion of legal aid as a rewarding (albeit poorly remunerated) career option.

Adrian Barham, chairman, Young Solicitors Group