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I can remember it happening in the 1980s in the town in which I used to practise. One firm had the local magistrates' court 'all tied up', to the extent that those who 'played by the book' frequently found their clients, sourced either as duty solicitor or the Green Form scheme or suchlike, going over to that firm. Sometimes the clients would tell you personally. More often the first you'd know was when you received a letter from the firm, to which was attached a letter of authority from the client, requesting that you send your file to that firm. Desk sergeants, gaolers and suchlike were 'kept onside' in a manner which they found most acceptable. The clients were suitably persuaded that it would be to their benefit to have that firm represent them. The only solicitors who gave that firm a run for its money were those who were willing to replicate its approach to 'business development'. Most people knew what was going on but no-one 'blew the whistle'. It seemed that the generally adopted view was that if you didn't like what was happening, then you just had to adopt the same approach as the town's leading criminal defence firm. Some did. Others decided to develop a practice in a different area of the law.

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