I never cease to be amazed by the plaudits heaped upon both people and schemes that have yet to prove their worth.

Sadly, as you have reported (30 April) Invicta Law’s business plan apparently failed to deliver what its former political masters were led to expect. The chief executive has moved on, leaving former colleagues facing an uncertain future.  

More than 25 years ago, the Legal Aid Fund hailed the so-called ‘hub and spokes’ law firm pioneered by a north-west firm as the great new way to practise law economically. With offices all over Merseyside, the theory was that clients would be seen in the local offices and the work referred into the ‘hub’, where it would be processed by experts in a given field of law, or sent to other offices. Great costs savings were expected.

Sadly, within a few years the ‘experiment’ failed, leading to widespread job losses and bankruptcy of the partners.

More recently, we have seen the Slater and Gordon experiment in the UK. I need not remind readers about that as it is fresh in the memory; so far, it does not seem to be a great success.

When lawyers become what is described in current management jargon as ‘business interrupters’, their employees and bankers should think long and hard about involvement.

Notwithstanding the above, I hope that the employees of Invicta Law manage to make a success of the business.

Keith M Lewin, director, Brunswicks Law, Birkenhead

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