Sir, – Solicitors, it seems, are not happy that they get only 1.6 per cent of judge appointments on a pro rata basis vis a vis their barrister colleagues (“Lack of solicitors as judges criticised”, April 18th).
However, the “relics of the past” argument cuts both ways. One of those relics is that clients generally cannot access barristers without a solicitor being present. But solicitors get paid for what some clients might view as a “childminding” role – pushing up the cost of barrister advice for clients, who would often prefer direct access. Solicitors also sometimes get paid “uplift fees” for not having hired a barrister at circuit court hearings. If solicitors want to be viewed with equal favour in assessment for appointment to the bench (which of course they should), they could start by refusing to play “second fiddle” in their legal advice roles. They cannot have their cake and eat it too. Yours, etc,
KIERAN FITZPATRICK,
Cummer,
Co Galway