Out of tune at the SDT

The ongoing seven-week Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal hearing into allegations that Leigh Day and three of its solicitors breached rules over its handling of claims against the British Army in Iraq is a serious matter.

But with such a prolonged hearing – the longest in SDT history – there has to be a little light relief. From the two rows of press seats near the back, Obiter is always amused to watch solicitors forgetting the tribunal chair’s injunction not to go through the formality of standing for his entrance into the room. The sight of po-faced lawyers behaving if they’re in a jeopardy-free game of musical chairs always gives the journalists a laugh.

Speaking of journalists, the nuances of practice accounting rules can be a little trying for some newspaper hacks. Certainly there was an audible harrumph when the chair agreed to extend proceedings to 5.15pm last week.

One reporter in particular is being noticed for all the wrong reasons. Routinely late, they incurred a room-wide stare – and a telling-off from the chair - when their phone loudly went off during proceedings last week. They also seem unable to disable the sound on their computer, meaning the Microsoft jingle is a regular addition to the trial. This is an extra burden for the shorthand writers, who have already complained several times about the pace of defence silk Patricia Robertson’s delivery.

If you happen to be in the vicinity of Ludgate Circus over the coming weeks, Obiter would recommend dropping by – if only to appreciate the scale of this event. The SRA team consists of two barristers and at least three (sometimes more) solicitors. The numbers are similar on the defence side. By 4pm, the corridors are full of  young bucks waiting to cart hundreds of documents back to chambers on trolleys.

Obiter shudders to think of what this is all costing – could this hearing break the seven-figure barrier? It’s certainly possible.

By the way, the respondents deny all wrongdoing and the hearing continues.