LORD FALCONER was left in no doubt last week about what the judges thought of Government plans to abolish his post and to scrap the rank of Queen’s Counsel. The new Lord Chancellor had to sit politely as Lord Woolf, Lord Chief Justice, was roundly applauded when he condemned the Government over lack of consultation over the plans. The host of the occasion, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Gavyn Arthur, then rubbed salt in the wound by praising the threatened rank of QC. The status was internationally recognised: “It’s a quality mark most countries would die for,” he said to enthusiastic clapping.

THE judges are also gearing up for a battle over the new Supreme Court. Most of them back the idea. But they don’t want it to be set up at the expense of a commercial court, which is badly needed. Lord Woolf told the judges’ dinner: “I have long hankered after a properly resourced Supreme Court. However, Lord Irvine considered it would have to wait until we could afford it.” Other priorities — the Commercial Court and better court facilities in Manchester — had to be met, he said. “So far, we have heard nothing about the additional resources which the Supreme Court will require.”

APART from battles with the judges, Lord Falconer appears to have drawn another short straw. His salary is not pegged to that of the Lord Chief Justice, as Lord Irvine’s was, an arrangement which fixed the latter’s pay at £2,000 above the country’s top judge and made him the most expensive Cabinet minister. Lord Falconer gets the ordinary salary of a secretary of state in the Lords — £96,960. Apparently, he does not get a fat, Irvine-style pension — and is also unable to return to the Bar.

This stripping-down of the once-grand office of Lord Chancellor is causing something of a stir among would-be judges: instead of enjoying a limo ride to Black Rod’s entrance, alighting in the Royal Court and then being sworn in at the sumptuous state apartments at the Palace of Westminsiter, they fear now they will have to drive to Selborne House and take the lift up to Lord Falconer’s very plain office. As for photos — on the roof by the fire escape?

WITHERS, the City law firm, is launching itself into the art market. The firm wants to provide specialist legal advice on everything from acquisition to maintenance and intellectual property rights — and how better to do it than invite 100 art collectors with a private viewing of paintings by the Bulgarian artist Plamen Kapitanski? They could go one better: what about hiring Derry Irvine as a consultant?

THE Kamlesh Bahl affair rolls on. The Law Society must be grateful that other legal matters are topping the agenda. The employment appeal tribunal hearing is due to run for a second week, taking the legal bill for the affair close to £2.5million.

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