Law Society’s Gazette, 5 September 1990

Postbox – the politics of pro bonoHow often is quite exceptional service rendered to a client in return for no more than the modest rates of legal aid remuneration?

I suggest that we emulate the American example so that in such cases the client be required to perform work of benefit to the community, commensurate with the amount of subsidised or free legal work being carried out on his behalf.The idea could even be taken further so as to require all suitable recipients of legal aid to carry out unpaid work on the same basis as a community service order, the amount of work being related to the amount of legal aid assistance being paid for by the taxpayer on behalf of each particular claimant.

Many recipients of legal aid are unemployed, able-bodied and at a loose end for much of the time. Why not make full use of this untapped source of labour for the benefit of our social services, old folk, etc, and make them pay in kind what they cannot afford to pay in money?

I think that this is something that deserves full investigation. The benefits for all sections of society could be considerable.Philip Gegan, Leicester

Law Society’s Gazette, 26 September 1990

Thriving on conveyancing competitionI thought that, with the conveyancing slump now in a position where things can only get better rather than worse, it would be a good opportunity to review the future of that work. It is always when things are at their blackest that it becomes a good time to plan for the future.

Domestic conveyancing will always have a place in a solicitors’ office. The only question that arises is to what extent that place should be allowed to dominate the other work carried on by lawyers.Tony Holland, President of the Law Society