I refer to the Bar Council rule which prohibits lawyers from giving discounts to their poor clients.

I would to suggest to all lawyers a perfectly legal and safe manner for giving discounts and without infringing on statutory declarations and what not.

This is how it works. First, collect from the client the amount agreed upon (the discounted price) by both parties. Enter into the books the billable amount ie, the sum which they are 'legally enforced' by the Bar Council to charge their clients.

This will left in the books as uncollected debt. After six months or so just write it off as bad debt. All perfectly legal and nicely accounted for.

So for those lawyers who keep saying that they really would want to offer discounts but are barred from doing so, the above is a way out for them. After all, giving discounts maybe illegal in the eyes of the Bar Council but not collecting debts isn't.