Since abolition of the common renewal date, practices have been free to choose when to renew their professional indemnity insurance. We estimate that around 30-40% now renew between March and April.

Selling a law firm can be a complex process. The time comes when you might want to move on or retire, and finally extract as much value as you can from your practice. It’s a huge decision and a challenging task.

Price information is only the beginning of the consumer information journey. What people also tell us they want to know about is quality, and that is a much tougher question.

I have been around for so long that I can’t even type the number of years, because the keyboard starts laughing. But in all that time, I have never worked in or with a firm that does not have a Gerald or Geraldine.

Recent disciplinary decisions have seen a uncomfortable trend: some lawyers committing sex offences are allowed on carry on practising, but almost anyone guilty of dishonesty continues to be struck off.