When it finally came, the resolution by Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, of the long-running battle over the future of the Silk system had all the hallmarks of a great big fudge. That, and a hefty dose of buck-passing.

For a start, he managed to come up with a formula that appeared to satisfy both the two main warring parties – the Bar Council, arch advocate of the system, and its main opponent, the Law Society.