Letter: We're no fat cats

Sir: Before your readers are swept along by any superficial comparison between barristers and hospital consultants or other professionals ("Lord Chancellor attacks legal aid fat-cats", 10 December), they might bear in mind that hospital consultants, out of their pounds 70,000, do not have to pay their support staff, do not have to rent and service the hospital buildings and equipment, do not have to market their services, do not have to buy and maintain efficient accounting systems to obtain payment, do not have to fund their own sickness insurance and pensions, and have some security of employment.

The fact that a number of very hard-working and exceptionally able barristers may obtain very high receipts in one calendar year does not alter these facts. I write as a barrister who gave up criminal work because the responsibility and anxiety involved were out of proportion to the general level of fees.

EDWARD CROSS

London WC1