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The saying about "lies, damn lies and statistics" is true only in how they are interpreted. Mr Stark's comments are a lesson in using a single statistic to support only one conclusion and ignoring all other explanations.

I exceed budgets sometimes. I know I won't get paid for the extra work but I do it anyway. This is not because my head is in the sand, because I haven't engaged or because I need a shock. I do it because if the work isn't done then my client doesn't get justice. In some cases I do it to avoid negligence. If I restricted my work to some of the budgets set then the SRA would rightly be breathing down my neck.

The main reason seems to be that Judges frequently underestimate the amount of legal advice which needs to be delivered to lay clients or the amount of party/party correspondence which doesn't fit neatly in the boxes.

The same statistic could also be used to show that budgets are being set at such a low level that solicitors are doing some work for free. Perhaps Mr Stark might need to think again whether the conclusion he has reached is the correct one.