Golden goose?! What golden goose?

I had a brief meeting with the new Lord Chancellor last night. Brief because the Ministry of Justice press reception had about 40 journalists to every Jack Straw.

“Legal Week? Of course, I read that these days,” joked Straw before sensing he should raise topics relevant to the legal press and launching into a speech on legal aid.

“There will be no more money for legal aid. No more!” He performed a kind of karate chop with his hand to illustrate his point.

I knew it would be my one moment to propose a question relevant to our City readers before someone from the BBC or Channel 4 asked about proportional representation again. “So Jack, are you going to liaise with the major City firms at all?” I began.

“Actually,” he responded. “The son of a friend of mine has recently started at one.”

Unsure about whether he knew what I was getting at, I went on: “They are the biggest and most successful law firms in the world and are one of our biggest commodities. They don’t get the attention they deserve…”

“I am very proud,” he cut me off. “Very proud of the way they have been so successful internationally on the back of UK common law.”

Someone from the BBC interjected a question about proportional representation and the moment was gone, possibly for the rest of this Parliament.

The situation was informal and shouldn’t be taken too seriously but an important issue remains. The new Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice might want to commit to some kind of debate with top firms, especially given that his watch will include overseeing the most radical overhaul of legal services provision ever attempted anywhere in the world.

Still, if not, let’s hope Jack Straw’s friend’s son is able to bend his ear.

paul.hodkinson@legalweek.com