There is a certain irony in the conjunction of the headline on the front page of last week’s Gazette, ‘Consumer call for competence test’ (see [2010] Gazette, 1 April, 1), and the fact that legal aid lawyers are now queuing up to carry out matrimonial work for the price of a few Cadbury’s Creme Eggs. This comes on top of the recent plaintiff cry that no more than £300 could be charged for a conveyancing transaction. Where does the high street end of the profession think it is going with its never-ending desire to provide legal advice for peanuts?

Nigel George, George and Co, Bury St Edmunds