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I agree with you, Tom Appleby,especially the second paragraph of your post. I am nearly at the end of my career and the profession has changed out of all recognition. Apart from the daily regret I feel when I look at the pathetic fees we charge for conveyancing despite having to shoulder more and more potential liability( we lost the chance to stick to a percentage back in 1985), I am particularly concerned by the costs situation in matrimonial cases though this would equally apply to any discipline where an hourly rate is applied as opposed to a fixed fee. The employer gives its staff costs targets, more often than not extremely high targets. Armed with the 6 minute unit the member of staff strives to meet the target and is constantly under pressure. . This almost encourages being as slow as possible to maximise the fees. Why take 3 units to draft a petition or a statement when you can take 6. Also why settle a case when you can make more going to court. So ultimately the public pay through the nose . I have come across examples of this frequently and have been amazed at some of the fees I have heard that clients have paid .
I cannot imagine what it must be like to be an aspiring young solicitor these days and it is not at all surprising to hear that mental health problems are on the increase.