Even in these casual days, turning up in court inappropriately attired remains the stuff of solicitors’ nightmares. Kevan Lines, of Abertillery firm Lewis & Lines, recalls a ghastly incident a couple of years ago (before the firm gave up publicly funded criminal work). ‘I was phoned by a legal adviser to say that they required a court duty solicitor urgently in the now-closed Abertillery Magistrates’ Court because a defendant was at risk of custody.

‘I explained that, much as I would love to attend, I was sitting in my office wearing very tattered jeans and an AC/DC T-shirt as I didn’t expect to be seeing any clients and was getting on with paperwork.’ After a short discussion with the bench, Lines was invited to attend, dressed as he was: ‘This was clearly a desperate situation.’

After a successful plea, Lines was amused to hear the chairwoman of the bench comment that it was just as well he hadn’t been wearing shorts.

‘And I always thought my legs were one of my better features…’.