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Michael,and others - while I am still on the Roll, I have not been in practice since 1981. Since then I have been a corporate client on numerous occasions (and a private one on a few), and have generally been very satisfied with the quality of service received in England, Scotland and elsewhere. Value for money, however, particularly in England, is another story. I know all the reasons why fees are so high, but when many, many clients are seeing hourly rates for inexperienced solicitors at significant multiples of their pay, I am astonished the satisfaction figure on value for money is as high as 13% .

My consultancy once bid a project in collaboration with a City firm and I was asked to double my hourly rate (which was already higher than I usually charged) because the difference was embarrassing. I am doubtful that the problem is cartel-related - it is, however, a problem and protestations that everyone has it in for the lawyers will not help.