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Kia Barton, I agree with you wholeheartedly. As a former practising solicitor LIP, I was staggered by my opposite number's lack of knowledge of the CPR and basic rules of evidence. Nevertheless, despite the fact that my case was far better prepared, whereas I was entitled to be remunerated at the princely sum of £19 per hour, she was entitled to charge £195 per hour. Effectively, I had no negotiating power at all, due to this discrepancy. And, to make matters worse, whenever I issued an application, the court staff would invariably reply to her, not to myself, which I found beyond discourteous, particularly as she was extremely hostile. If LIP's are to be held to the same standard as practising solicitors, there can be no logical justification for not allowing them to claim the same hourly rate.