I am impressed by the number of people who fondly (I think fondly is the correct word) remember Green forms. I wonder how many of you recall five-pound fixed fees. It had a certain ring to it. If your client was not eligible to sign the Green form then you'd offer them this fee. The idea was to get people into the office, give them some advice and either sign them up if it was something worthwhile or take five pounds off them, open the door and wish them good day.

The only drawback was that the people rarely had five pounds on them. They would offer to drop it in later, and sometimes they did. I say only downside but the additional downer was the fact that the five pounds included VAT. I forget what the rate was then but there was not much left over. What was worse was if you did not know the answer and had to do some research or the prospective client brought in pages of papers you were expected to read. Even worse I remember someone bringing in a box of these papers.

The Green form scheme was set up in 1973, possibly as a response to the law centre movement which the Law Society was concerned about. Parts of the profession noticed how Law Centres were springing up, which were not organised on traditional partnership lines. In those days it was the Law Society that administered legal aid and they continued to do so until 1988.

I went to an LSC Provider Reference Group Meeting recently. These regional meetings cover developments such as tenders, changes to scope and the introduction of online systems. All good stuff and everyone is doing their best in difficult times but going to these meetings is a good opportunity (for me) to feel old and long for simpler times.

The Green form scheme delivered a service to the community which the profession no longer can do. I say bring it back.

David Pickup is a partner in Aylesbury based Pickup & Scott