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The requirement for us to apply a value judgement to the amount we eventually charge dates back to the 19th century and is one part of what makes solicitors professionals. To the extent that society (as represented by politicians and the media) has any contribution to make we are increasingly exhorted to be businesses, not professional firms.

If my car develops a fault my garage will charge me for the hours it takes to find and fix that fault. If I want to stick with the recognised, franchised or whatever garages I have to accept that the more posh the car, the more expensive the garage. If the mechanic working on my car spends 20 hours only to discover that the noise I was worried about was caused by a stone which had found its way into the bodywork and was rolling around, thus the problem, although worrying for me, was if not great significance, does the garage look at the matter in the round and reduce my bill. Exactly!

If they get their way and we cease to be a profession many considerations like this will disappear. As one of Harry Enfield's characters might have said 'is that what you want?'