Michael Gove’s call for rich lawyers to do pro bono work is absolutely spot on. It will help the legal aid budget too. But the generosity of such people deserves some return.

So here is my offer. Let the senior partner of a major City firm spend an evening advising one of our clients at Wavertree Road Police Station (fee £170-ish). And maybe do the bail application the following morning (fee £0-ish). In return, I will spend a couple of hours (fee £600-ish) advising one of his corporate clients on the finer points of their latest tax avoidance scheme.

That should enhance the unity of the profession. I know I can do his job as well as he can do mine.

Jeremy Hawthorn, Kirwans, Liverpool

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