The Diary has always been keen for lawyers to put aside their stuffy image, which is why we were so glad to find that when they are not struggling into Gap slacks for the compulsory dress-bad Friday, lawyers are doing all they can to address each other in a more relaxed manner.

One sterling example came at a recent DLA bash when a partner told The Diary just how informal meetings of the DLA board had become, with partners now resorting to nicknames.