Lawyers put off organising the Christmas party until the last minute. A hint: don’t let the youngsters do it.

It is that time of year when you think about drafting the standard message to tag on letters and emails. ‘The partners and staff wish all our clients a happy Christmas,’ it says, and then gives the closing dates over the holiday. I wonder if clients read the first bit and assume the office may not reopen.

And the Christmas rush for lawyers means that everyone wants everything done before Christmas.

Yes, Mrs Smith, you want to move in Christmas week but this may not suit everyone. Mr Brown, why don’t you discuss contact issues now rather leave them until Christmas Eve? Yes, probably a good idea, Mr Green, to get the family powers of attorney and wills drafted now or they could end up being signed over the Christmas turkey. But don’t get gravy on the papers.

Christmas seems to come round quicker and quicker for most people. Lawyers are no better. We tend to leave organising the Christmas party until the last minute. A hint here – don’t let the youngsters choose the venue as the partners’ dancing may be more suited to a 70s’ revival than the 21st century.

Then there is the vexed question of what to buy those nearest and dearest to you. I mean sources of work – not staff! There is probably no point sending a bottle of cheap sherry to the court ushers, a Christmas card to the police superintendent and box of chocolates to the local legal aid office as they probably all closed years ago.

David Pickup is a partner at Aylesbury-based Pickup & Scott

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