ATTORNIES AND BARRISTERS—SHERIFF'S COURT PRACTICE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.

Westminster Hall, 9th December 1833.

DEAR SPFC.—Yon 'save a few words in your last Number, as to disputes 'between tire Bar and the attornies concerning the right to plead in the new .Sheriff's Courts. It may not be amiss to remind you—and, through you, the public--that the said public will save by the attornies being allowed to plead. If pommel are to be employed, they must have briefs and fees ; and the attornies must be paid for drawing the briefs, attending counsel, &c. This, in a small cause, will add materially to the costs. Suppose an action brought to recover 101. and counsel employed.

!caking the scale of fees now allowed in the Courts at Westminster, this will

'cause the following addition to the costs, viz. s. d.

Instructions for Brief 0 13 4 Drawing same (suppose 3 sheets) 1 0 0 Fair Copy for Counsel 0 10 0 Attending him therewith

0 6 8

Paid fee to him (suppose)

1 1 0

His Clerk 0 2 6

#313 6

The fees in the new Local Courts will probably be fixed at a lower rate; but even if they were only half the above, it would make an addition of nearly 2/. in an action to recover 101. Twenty per cent. on the amount of the debt ! and this is exclusive of the other costs previous and subsequent to the hearing. Again : the brief may run much longer, and then the charge for drawing, as well as the fee to counsel, must be higher.

In souse cases, the assistance of counsel may be required ; but I think ANA in the great majority of actions, the attornies will be quite competent to plead their clients' causes. The difference between the education of an at- ts my and that of a barrister, is by no means so much in favour of the latter as the Bar would have it supposed ; and the attornies having had the trouble of getting up the case, generally understand it much better than the counsel they employ.

It will be seen that my suggestions are not in favour of, but rather adverse to,

the pecuniary interests of " my order." Your Constant Reader,

AN ArroSNET.