Has the door to the law silently closed to those who are either not from wealthy backgrounds or do not have connections in the profession? How many of today’s lawyers have working-class origins, compared with solicitors five, 10 or 20 years ago?

The difficulty of entry into the profession for those from a working-class background can be seen in the work experience arena. Many opportunities are becoming unremunerated or pay the minimum wage if you are lucky. Unless you have wealthy parents, a working-class applicant from a low-income family will not be able to afford to live or work in London, for example, to take the opportunities that arise.

Meanwhile, the pipeline is becoming narrower and more privileged, with the cost of the Legal Practice Course ranging from £6,000 to £9,000 before living expenses. And a dearth of funding from loan providers means that the money is just not there for many, unless a practice pays your fees or family money is available.

Are legal jobs once again falling into the lap of those from the ‘right background’ and with connections? Of course, public schoolboys still hold on to a disproportionate share of top judicial posts, and the same issues apply to those from lower-income backgrounds who would seek to become a barrister.

The government and Law Society allow firms to outsource work to India that was once done by trainees, so will we import future qualified lawyers from India, as the NHS did with doctors and nurses?

The Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority need to work faster at reforming the route to qualification as a solicitor; meanwhile, prepare for the profession to become ever more reserved for the wealthy and well connected.

Mark Walklate, Crewe