C i r c u l a t e d F R E E t o B a r r i s t e r s ’ C l e r k s i n t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m

HEALTH WARNING:This magazine contains comments that may disturb the bar

PA G E 3 Brief Notes

PA G E 7 Carolyn McCombe

PAGE 17 I.T. Notes

PAGE 26Fast Track Costs

I S S U E 7 0 - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 0

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES TO:magazine@clerksroom.com

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES TO:jrobertmoss@hotmail.com

This edition of the Clerksroom Magazine has been kindly supportedby the following companies:

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The Government released this month figures confirming that £1.59

million had been spent on creating the Ministry of Justice. Apparently

£275,000 had gone on new offices and signage costs. Even harder to

understand was the £700,000 spent on IT.

Re-branding may well line the pockets of the marketing companies, but I struggle

to see the need for a new computer and desk just because you change the trading

name. It is amazing how much you can spend when it’s somebody else’s money.

Whilst on the topic of money, new money laundering regulations take effect in

December 2007 and the Law Society has issued a new Money Laundering Practice

Note to help solicitors with the new Regulations. As not many clients ask to pay

in cash these days, clerks could be forgiven for thinking the new Regulations don’t

affect operations in the clerks’ room. But what if someone in Chambers, barrister

or clerk, realises that a matter which should have been reported to the Serious

Organised Crime Agency has not been reported for whatever reason? Perhaps

something for counsel to advise on and an appropriate change made to the

Chambers Manual. Law firms have to train all employees as the repercussions of

getting it wrong can be serious, including exposure to prosecution. No doubt the

Bar Council will upgrade its guidance which currently states: “This guidance is NO

substitute for reading the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and being familiar with it.

Contravention of the Act is a criminal offence”.

The day a member of chambers takes the trip to the House of Lords to be sworn in

for a judicial appointment is a memorable occasion especially for those clerks who

attend. Not everyone gets the opportunity so in the coming months we will ask

clerks to share their experiences of this special day and see how the event has

evolved over the last few decades. Different Lord Chancellors have treated the

event differently. So if you have any anecdotes you would like to share with

colleagues, please e-mail, anonymously if you prefer, to me at

jrobertmoss@hotmail.com.

Clerksroom Magazine is produced under licence by JAR Holdings Limited, 20 Alexander Court, Chester,Cheshire CH3 5AW. 07734 995 902

Bob Moss

1

A R T I C L E

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 03

Brief Notes

Contract Delay

According to the Bar Council, as reported in the Law Society

Gazette a few weeks ago, the delay in the introduction of the

new fee contract negotiated by the Law Society and the Bar

Council until October 2008 at the earliest has been caused by

“software suppliers not being able to produce the necessary

infrastructure in time”. Surely this cannot be right. The

software companies are used to dealing with changes in

legislation, and the new template contract has hardly been

sprung on anybody. Negotiations between the Law Society and

the Bar Council have been going on for nearly 10 years and the

draft template contractual terms has been available for

download most of this year.

The other excuse given was that there was insufficient time for

the rules to be changed in readiness for the planned

introduction this year. This excuse may be nearer the mark. It is

sometimes suggested that dentists have the worst teeth.

Lawyers are no better, especially when it comes to the

relationship between barristers and solicitors. It is hard to

imagine a commercial client allowing 10 weeks for a deal to be

completed, never mind 10 years.

JAC Backlog

We report in this edition of the magazine on the first annual

review published by the Judicial Appointments Commission.

The Chairman Baroness Prashar was reported in The Times

earlier this month as being angry at the criticism levelled at the

Commission and pointed out that of the 47 recommendations

made to the Lord Chancellor earlier this year, only 1 had been

appointed as a Circuit Judge. That is quite a bottleneck.

Assuming a high proportion of those appointments come from

the Bar, it is also quite a large number of Chambers waiting to

lose major fee earners. This will bring new blood to the top of

some Chambers, which often means a change of direction with

an influx of new ideas. The danger is that the new broom may

want to sweep clean and seek a fresh approach to clerking.

Many will see this as an opportunity to modernise and go

forward, but there will inevitably be some left behind.

By the Editor

...continued on page 4

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A R T I C L E

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 04

Are Judges Rude?A few weeks ago there was an article in the Law Society

Gazette entitled “General rudeness of Judges attracts most

complaints”. This was an article reporting on the first annual

report by the Office for Judicial Complaints (OJC). This was the

first review of the work undertaken by the complaints handling

body. Apparently 15 out of the 28 magistrates were removed

from office and 6 judicial office holders were removed from

their positions. But only 2 members of what the report called

the “mainstream judiciary” were reprimanded. Overall, around

1 in 1000 judicial office holders were sanctioned or

reprimanded during the 12 month period. The greatest number

of complaints against the judiciary fell into the category

“general rudeness”.

How many times have you heard a member of Chambers come

back from court complaining bitterly about the treatment

handed down from the Bench, particularly when it was former

member of Chambers? And how many times does anybody do

anything about it?

Hardly ever is no more than a reflection of human nature. Who

wants to rock the boat? You can almost hear the muttering:

“One day, when people are in my court…”

In mitigation, and it is only partial mitigation, there is a point

worth making that doesn’t come into the Judges Manual as

part of his or her induction course for life on the Bench.

Very often members of the Bar have been at the top of the

profession. It’s rather like going from head boy of the private

junior school to becoming the most junior pupil at the state

senior school surrounded by civil servants. All of the privileges

have disappeared and the only place to exercise power is in

“my court”.

...continued from page 3

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A R T I C L E

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 07

When did you start working in Chambers?

I think that it was in 1985.

Why did you become a Chief Executive?

A change of title was necessary to allow promotion

within the Clerks’ room. There were a number of

suggestions, such as Headmistress or Dominatrix, but we

finally plumped for the anodyne Chief Executive.

Did you feel any resentment amongst the

clerks when you joined?

As an “outsider” I think there were many who

predicted, and some who hoped, that I would not

survive. The fact that I did is a testament to the support

that I received from Ron Burley and Simon Perry at Brick

Court and to the fact that I was brought in at a

relatively junior level to learn the ropes, rather than

being imposed at the top.

So far what has been your best moment in

Chambers?

There is not one moment in particular. The most

satisfying part of the job is watching Barristers, at all

levels, achieve their potential and being part of what

makes that possible.

...continued on page 8

What Makes A Clerk Tick?Carolyn McCombe is Chambers' Chief Executive at 4 Pump Court. A Cambridge law graduate, she

practised for a number of years as a solicitor, latterly as a partner, before switching to her present role.

A R T I C L E

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 08

What has been your worst moment in

Chambers?

Watching a senior Silk in Chambers succumb to the

pressures of stress and feeling utterly helpless to

prevent his descent. Having to tell two partners at

Linklaters that I was going to pull him in the middle of

a major trial was not much fun either!

Who has been the greatest influence on your

career?

Ron Burley, who was the legendary Senior Clerk at 1

Brick Court when I made my career switch. His

judgement, intellect and strength of character made

Brick Court what they are today. There still is not a day

that goes by when I do not think “how would Ron

Burley have dealt with this?”

What irritates you the most?

Barristers who take all the credit when their practices

are going well, but regard it as entirely their Clerk’s

fault when things go badly.

What is the best aspect of the job?

Having the best clerks’ team and staff in the world.

What is the worst aspect of the job?

Never having the time to adequately follow through on

my ideas.

What is your best characteristic, clerking or

otherwise?

Being able to multi-task, which is essential both as a

clerk and as a working mother.

Do you have any bad habits?

Many, but probably the most infuriating is forgetting

what people have told me - less a habit than a

reflection of my great age.

Your favourite film?

Pretty Women and The Rock.

Your favourite music?

Whatever my teenage children tell me I will like.

If you had not gone into clerking, what

would you be doing now?

Running a shop like Madelaine Hamilton in

Chancery Lane.

Do you miss being a solicitor?

Never – whatever their faults, Barristers are far more

interesting than Solicitors.

So what do you think makes a clerk tick?

Broad shoulders and a sense of humour.

...continued from page 7

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A R T I C L E

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 011

Just Hot Air!Martin at Clerksroom sent me the following. We cannot recall where it comes from.

Any ideas please email to the Editor.

“A man in a hot air balloon realised he was lost. Hereduced his altitude and spotted a man below.

He descended a bit more and shouted: "Excuse me, canyou help me? I promised a friend I would meet him anhour ago but don’t know where I am?!"

The man below replied: "You're in a hot air balloonhovering approximately 30 feet above the ground.You’re between 40 and 45 degrees north latitude andbetween 9 and 60 degrees west longitude"

"you must be a Clerk?!" exclaimed the balloonist.

"I am," replied the man, "how did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you toldme is technically correct but I've no idea what to makeof your information and the fact is, I'm still lost! Franklyyou've not been much help at all. If anything, you'vedelayed my trip."

The man below responded, "You must be a barrister?!""I am!" replied the balloonist, "but how did youknow?"

"Well", said the man, "you don't know where you areor where you're going. You have risen to where you aredue to a large quantity of hot air. You have made apromise which you've no idea how to keep, and youexpect people beneath you to solve your problems. Thefact is you are still in exactly the same position as youwere before we met but now, somehow, it's my fault!"Most fees clerks are on the ball when it comes to theseissues, but it does not do any harm to be aware ofwhat instructing solicitors are up against, and may beable to help.

These claims arise where the LSC has made paymentson account for certificated civil legal aid cases butclaims that it never received a final bill. Many of theseclaims relate to very old files which may no longer exist.The Law Society has received many enquiries about thisissue. It has set a closing date of the 7th September2007. Some of the questions are set out below.

If you have any more stories, fact or fiction, likethis then we will be happy to include them infuture editions. Email to:jrobertmoss@hotmail.com.

A R T I C L E

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 012

Poems by a lawyer?Poetry by Adam Taylor

The Art of LeadershipWe huggedand slapped high fiveslike it said in the book.NOW THE VIM THING, I shoutedTHE VIM THING? she screamed.VISION, I shoutedVISION, she screamed.INSPIRATION, I shoutedINSPIRATION, she screamed.MOMENTUM, I shoutedMOMENTUM, she screamed.THAT'S THE VIM THING, I shoutedTHE VIM THING, she screamed.We huggedand slapped high fiveslike it said in the book.Then my cleaning ladywent back to work.

Sick Home SyndromeThe door is alarmed.The roof is aloof.The floor is bored.It feels ignoredjust like the records.The mirror’s reflectingon a life of deflection.The table’s groaningbut not with foodor delicacies.There’s a certain malaiseamongst the trays.The toilet’s flushedbut the curtains are pale and drawn.The welcome matneeds a new "e"and my house could dowith a dose of feng shui.

See more of Adam’s work at:

www.adamtaylorpoetry.com

Will You Shoot Me Now?No, we don’t do that in Englandsaid Mrs Betty Tyleewould you like a cup of tea?Though one thing we do dois put milk in first.The military policearen’t due until threesaid Miss Jean Smithsonas she rummaged inthe biscuit tin.Gosh, your Messershmitt’s ina bit of a mess.Not to mention my gardensaid Mrs Betty Tyleeunsmilingly.Here’s a teaspoon.Cheers.Then she stabbed him withher garden shears.

On 14 August 1940 the Daily Express

reported that Mrs Betty Tylee and Miss

Jean Smithson approached a downed

German pilot. They declined to shoot him

and instead offered him a cup of tea.

A R T I C L E

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 015

The Feminisation of The NetAccording to Katie Allen, media business correspondent at the Guardian, the internet has a new user.

You can forget the 20-something man playing online fantasy football and selling motorbike parts on

eBay. Her description may not exactly fit the male in every clerk’s room, but many of the younger

generation can relate to it.

The UK has the most active internet population in

Europe thanks to widely available broadband

connections that are getting cheaper every year. For

years cyberspace has been tailored to an audience of

mainly young men but for the first time women web

users have taken the lead in key age groups.

The latest snapshot of Britain's communications market

by regulator Ofcom turns the established assumptions

about web users upside down. It also shows all of us

spending more time online and on our mobiles than

ever before.

Watching television, surfing the web, making phone

calls and listening to the radio now take up an average

50 hours a week. Hardly any time left for clerking.

While TV watching, radio listening and home phone use

has all fallen since 2002, our daily minutes on the web

have doubled.

The boom in web use is nothing new. But what website

owners such as newspapers, TV companies and travel

agents have to get to grips with is a new type of surfer.

One significant trend that stands out is an apparent

feminisation of the internet. "Ever since it kicked off in

the early 90s the web has been male-dominated. For

the first time this year women are spending more time

on the internet than men," says Peter Phillips, strategy

and market developments partner at Ofcom, referring to

web users in the 25 to 49 age bracket. "It's a big shift

and has implications for the kind of content that

content providers want to have on the internet."

Ofcom's researchers put the changing pattern partly

down to young women finding more sites online that

are relevant to them.

In the teenage bracket, a growing female presence

online is being driven by the emergence of new sites

specifically tailored to teenage girls. Perhaps

unsurprisingly, some of these surfers' favourite

destinations are social networking sites where they can

extend the school day's gossip sessions late into the

evening at home.

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A R T I C L E

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 016

Hackers: We Are All At RiskYou won't know you are infected until one day your ISP turns you off or restricts access or money startsdisappearing from your bank account.

Reuters reported a few weeks ago how an office computer quietly started sending out dozens of instantmessages with photos attached that were infected with malicious software. By the time the employeefigured out what was going on, several friends and colleagues had opened the attachments and infectedtheir computers. This is a global problem. Hackers do not acknowledge international boundaries.

It took eight hours for a technicianto clean up the

computer. The bulkof malware isinstalled oncomputers byusers who either

click on a Web linkor on a file that is

attached to an emailor instant message.

Computer security experts estimate that tens of millionsof personal computers are infected with malicioussoftware. Such programs, generally classified asmalware, attack companies as well as consumers.Some are keyloggers, recording every key stroke thatthe user enters -- sending valuable bank accountinformation, passwords and credit card numbers tohackers.

Apparently hackers used keylogging software to gatherpasswords to databases at the U.S. Department ofTransportation, consulting firm Booz Allen, Hewlett-Packard Co and satellite network company HughesNetwork Systems, according to British Internet securitysoftware maker Prevx Inc.

And other malware programs turn PCs into "zombies,"literally giving hackers full control over the machine. Thezombies can be instructed to act as servers, sending outtens of thousands of spam emails promoting counterfeitmedications, luxury watches or penny stocks without

the PC owner ever knowing about it.The computer that controls the zombies -- known asthe command and control center -- is able to changethe text of the spam depending on what his or hercustomer wants to sell.

Monster Worldwide Inc said last month thatconfidential contact information of millions of its jobseekers was stolen by criminals who used zombies.Security experts say that while companies andconsumers need to be vigilant to protect themselvesagainst Internet-borne threats, determined criminals arehard to beat.

A researcher with an Internet security firm hassuggested that If you want to know for sure, never doanything with your computer and never connect to theInternet.

"The problems are not getting solved. They are gettingworse," he said. "The bad guys are making a lot ofmoney."

Security experts recommend that PC users take basicprecautions, including installing up-to-date securitysoftware, keeping current with updates that softwareproviders distribute over the Web, and backing up files.More important than security software, users need tomonitor their own behaviour. PC users can greatlyreduce the risk of infection by only visiting familiar Websites and avoiding unknown attachments.

Hit any keyto continue!

A R T I C L E

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 018

Barristers Say No To Pro-BonoSolicitors outdo Barristers and reap rewards from legal TV,

according to a press release by Legal TV last month. Their

comments were part of news of their three senior lawyers

taken on to meet the demand generated by the success on

the channel.

TV lawyers LLP aims to become a national leader in legal

services by reaching out to the viewing public via Legal TV. The

TV station allows them to reach out to the public on everyday

legal matters involving consumer law, immigration, health,

motoring, travel, personal injury, property, family, employment,

business and finance.

Apparently solicitors are willing to step in when “fat cat

barristers” say no to pro-bono. Producer Dean Healey from

Legal TV said “we have been very pleased by the response from

solicitors up and down the country who have given their time

freely to attend Legal TV shows, in return they get huge

exposure on a national TV platform, although we have found

very few barristers have been willing to help with the exception

of 15 New Bridge Street. It seems barristers are not interested

in helping the public and many have said they want a lot of

money to come on the shows “

Solicitor Angela Hesketh of Lees Lloyd Whitely commented. “I

am now invited regularly to appear on various shows on Legal

TV which I greatly enjoy. I have been impressed by the range of

shows and the audience they receive on a daily and weekly

basis. Law can so often be seen as a boring or dull subject

whereas Legal TV makes it exciting and interesting.”

Legal TV is geared towards becoming the first point of contact

for the public when requiring legal advice and legal

entertainment. Part of the problem for the Bar is that Solicitors

are unlikely to watch Legal TV, so from a marketing point of

view, there is little benefit. Furthermore, pro-bono work is

usually perceived as being for pupils and new tenants to cut

their teeth on a specific client matter rather than general advice

for a mass audience.

Legal TV relies upon lawyers to broadcast on its adviceshows and welcomes all enquiries who would like to

participate in programming.For more information please contact:Vijay Gulwani at LegalTV (dsb@legaltv.co.uk, 0121 380 1050).

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A R T I C L E

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 020

Delia’s Guide To The Internet For Lawyers

No, this has nothing to do with cooking or Norwich football club. Delia Venables runs a well respected

website for the legal profession, including courses to help lawyers understand the internet and what is

available out there. So you might consider help for those members who need their heads gently

extracting from the sand.

The site has several good references from the Bar

including:

“I have encouraged the new tenants in Chambers (and

some of the older ones) to consider this course as a

very valuable tool for the future of the Bar as an

independent profession” and “I had not appreciated

that there was so much information available out there,

and the majority of it free of charge to assist us

lawyers.”

The Beginners' Guide takes the Lawyer through the

most important aspects of the Internet in a

straightforward manner:

• What it is

• What legal material is available, both free and on a

subscription basis

• How to get connected

• The benefits of email - and areas to be cautious

• How to find legal materials on the web

• What firms and chambers are doing already

• A bit about selling and marketing from a web site

The Guide and the Tutorials (together) qualify for CPD

hours. The Bar Council has accredited 8 hours. A new

edition is produced every year, so the material, when

purchased, is always up to date. Latest edition is

November 2006, nearly due for update.

The tutorials are included in printed form with the

Guide and are also provided on a password area of the

site. They contain all the links to the material covered in

the tutorials so that learning is easy (and enjoyable too

according to the comments). The cost of Guide,

including the on-line Tutorials, is £60 plus £10.50 VAT,

or 100 euros. There is a combined price for the Guide,

the Tutorials and the newsletter of £80 plus £14 VAT

or 120 euros.

...continued on page 23

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A R T I C L E

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 023

There is also an Intranet/Multiple Use licence. This costs

£120 plus £21 VAT or 180 euros. Licences last for one

year and allow up to 5 people to take the course and

obtain the CPD. Additional people can take the course

and obtain the CPD for a £10 plus VAT fee.

The detail is the sort of information you would expect

from your software supplier’s induction training course

and new employer combined, but for some reason

everyone assumes the Bar already has the knowledge.

Principal Contents

1. Introduction ....page 1

What is it really? Changing the way that Business

and Law are conducted

2. Electronic Mail (email)....page 5

Advantages and disadvantages; issues of

acceptable use; Control of Spam; Newsgroups and

Mailing Lists

3. World Wide Web....page 10

Not just text, but also.... Some definitions;

A portal - a place to start

4. Getting Connected....page 13

What You Need; Internet Service Providers -

which to choose? providing Internet Access on

a Network; Security Issues

5. Parliament, Government and the Courts and

other important UK sites....page 15

6. What the Legal Publishers are

Offering....page 19

7. British and Irish Legal Information Institute

(BAILII)... page 24

"Free the Law" is a great success

8. European Legal Resources.... page 27

9. Firms of Solicitors on the Web....page 29

Brochure sites; specialised sites;

Selling legal services online

10. Barristers on the Web....page 33

Sites offering legal resources; brochure sites;

new types of service provided

...continued from page 20

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Accommodation:� Fleet Street apartment available for short term rental to

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www.218strand.com

A R T I C L E

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 024

Legal HumourA London lawyer runs a stop sign and gets

pulled over by a Glasgow copper.

He thinks that he is smarter than the cop because he is

a lawyer from London and is certain that he has a

better education then any Jock cop. He decides to prove

this to himself and have some fun at the Glasgow

cops expense.

Glasgow cop says," License and registration, please."

London Lawyer says, "What for?"

Glasgow cop says, "You didn't come to a complete stop

at the stop sign."

London Lawyer says, "I slowed down, and no one was

coming."

Glasgow cop says, "You still didn't come to a complete

stop. License and registration, please."

London Lawyer says, "What's the difference?"

Glasgow cop says, "The difference is, you have to come

to complete stop, that's the law. License and

registration, please!"

London Lawyer says, "If you can show me the legal

difference between slow down and stop, I'll give you

my license and registration; and you give me the ticket.

If not, you let me go and don't give me the ticket."

Glasgow cop says, "Sounds fair. Exit your vehicle, sir."

The London Lawyer exits his vehicle. The Glasgow cop

takes out his baton and starts beating seven bells out

of the lawyer and says, "Do you want me to

stop, or just slow down?"

A R T I C L E

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 026

Fast Track Trial Costs(Just in case the changes below have escaped your attention)

The amendments reproduced below increase the

amounts set out in the table under CPR 46.2(1) from

£350 to £485, £500 to £690, and £750 to £1,035. The

amounts recoverable under CPR 46.3(2) and CPR

46.3(4) increase from £250 to £345 and £350 to £485

respectively.

PROPOSED CPR 46 AMENDMENTS - 45TH UPDATE TO

CIVIL PROCEDURE RULES

46.2 (1) The following table shows the amount of fast

track trial costs which the court may award (whether by

summary or detailed assessment).

Value of the claim Amount of fast track trial costs which

the court may award

• No more than £3,000 - Fee now set at £485

• More than £3,000 but not more than £10,000 -

Fee now set at £690

• More than £10,000 - Fee now set at £1,035

46.3 (1) This rule sets out when a court may award –

(a) an additional amount to the amount of fast track

trial costs shown in the table in rule 46.2 (1); and (b)

less than those amounts.

(2) If –

(a) in addition to the advocate, a party’s legal

representative attends the trial;

(b) the court considers that it was necessary for a legal

representative to attend to assist the advocate; and

(c) the court awards fast track trial costs to that party,

The court may award an additional £345 in respect of

the legal representative’s attendance at the trial.

(Legal representative is defined in rule 2.3)

(2A) The court may in addition award a sum

representing an additional liability.

(The requirements to provide information about a

funding arrangement where a party wishes to recover

any additional liability under a funding arrangement are

set out in the costs practice direction)

(‘Additional liability’ is defined in rule 43.2)

(3) If the court considers that it is necessary to direct a

separate trial of an issue then the court may award an

additional amount in respect of the separate trial but

that amount is limited in accordance with paragraph

(4) of this rule.

(4) The additional amount the court may award under

paragraph 3 must not exceed two-thirds of the amount

payable for that claim, subject to a minimum award

of £485.

FROM THE 1ST OCTOBER 2007, Part 46 is amended to increase the amount of costs which the court may

award as the costs of an advocate for preparing for and appearing at the trial of a claim in the fast

track for trials commencing on, or after 1st October 2007.

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 ~ I S S U E 7 028

- a problem shared!!

Dear Ted ‘n’ AliceI was listening to my favourite radio show

recently when a caller said he’d be a very rich

man if he had £1 for every time he held a door

open for a woman only to be the victim of

verbal abuse. I know exactly how the guy feels

when I hold a door open for a female member

of the Bar. Whatever happened to politeness?

Ted: No doubt if you test the market and don’t open

the door for a female, you’ll equally get abused? I dare

not answer this one.

Alice: Keep holding the door open. We’re not all like

that and some of us do still appreciate man kindness.

Dear Ted ‘n’ AliceThere are six of us clerking in chambers and we

have been discussing in our clerks room if the

Senior Clerk should make the tea and coffee

along with the rest of us. He thinks he is above

it but everyone else disagrees.

What do you think?

Alice: Team work should dictate he does his bit. What

kind of an example is he setting by refusing?

Refreshed from a break, Ted & Alice return to solve more of your trickysituations.

Ted: Members may ask why the Senior Clerk is

spending valuable clerking time on a mundane matter,

or suggest they are not paying him to make the tea. But

the important question is: can he make a good brew?

Don’t let standards slip.

Dear Ted ‘n’ AliceWe can never agree on the temperature level

for the air conditioning in the clerks’ room. One

of the girls recently asked for the temperature

to be increased because she was cold, and the

other said she was too hot. One of the guys

suggested she was having a hot flush and she

should take the hormone tablets. The woman

turned to the Senior Clerk and said: “any more

comments like that and I will sue chambers.”

Ted: Be grateful you have air conditioning! We have

not had too much political correctness recently.

Alice: Good for her!

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