Here’s a romantic tale that brought a tear even to Obiter’s cynical eye. Neville Takiar, commercial dispute solicitor at Newcastle firm Muckle, went to last year’s Junior Lawyers Division annual ball in London on his own. The long trip was not wasted.

There was a table plan and Neville found himself sitting with trainees from London firm Memery Crystal. More to the point, he found himself sitting beside Minna Basuta, to whom he took an instant shine. He told Obiter: ‘I bugged Minna for a few weeks after the ball until she finally gave in and agreed to meet me.’ They are now engaged. Ahhhh…

However, the story does not end there. Takiar tracked down the person who put the table plan together. This was Aisling Macdonald, who has since left the Law Society. Takiar said: ‘One good turn deserves another - I sent her a bottle of champagne.’