Latest testimonial - wow

My latest testimonial from JCO is just unbelievable. It's great to hear when people think you are doing a good job. JCO talks about how I want to win - and I do! I really care about my clients, they are good people doing difficult work in tough circumstances.

Every so often though, one slips through the nets. Earlier this year I had a client who was facing dishonesty allegations connected with her applications for work. She was not able to fund my representation at her panel hearing, in a case where it was imperative that the NMC witnesses be cross examined and proper submissions made. It was a 4 day hearing. I know it is difficult to find the money for legal fees, but my view is that it is your professional right to practice that is on the line. I bent over backwards in offering staged payments and further time to pay, but to no avail. I checked the result with trepidation and found that she had been suspended for 12 months. This was an upsetting result, because with representation she would have done much better than that. I have only ever had two registrants suspended - and one was my first ever case!

I'm not sure what the moral of this is, really. Beg, borrow or steal to pay for representation, I guess. I think about it this way - if you get suspended for 6 months, that's got to be at least £12k lost - you can instruct me for no more than 1/4 of that (and sometimes less). I want to help, I don't charge as much as the big firms - let me help you.

Then you too can leave me a lovely testimonial...