* After a year of printing cash, it's good to see the City firms giving something back at Christmas. Simmons & Simmons has donated to RNIB, the charity for the blind, and various groups overseas. Pinsent Masons is sponsoring a village in Kaifeng, China, through SOS Children's Villages, which helps orphaned and abandoned children. But Crisis, the homeless charity that has asked companies not to send Christmas cards this year but to donate the money to them instead, seems to be the biggest beneficiary, receiving backing from the likes of Norton Rose (which is also supporting Shelter), Freshfields, Baker & McKenzie and Allen & Overy. David Morley, A&O's managing partner, apparently even lent his vocals to one of Crisis's singing electronic cards. Who says lawyers don't have a heart?

* Shall we have a judicial fashion show in the new year? Judges may now have to wait until October before they remove their wigs and doff new continental-style gowns – but the design by Betty Jackson is still set to be unveiled next month, the Water Cooler is told. The reason for the delay is said to be production problems: 200 new robes for High Court and Court of Appeal judges in civil and family cases could not be stitched in time. But that’s also rather convenient, given that the Bar has voted to keep wigs on – and gives time for a resolution to be reached.

* Solicitor-advocates, though, can celebrate: the Lord Chief Justice will issue a practice direction this week telling them that from the new year they can wear wigs in court – so will no longer be regarded as second-class lawyers. Michael Caplan, QC, long in the forefront of the campaign for parity of dress and a solicitor-advocate himself, said he was “delighted”, although for him it makes no difference – as a tiny band of solicitor silks, he already wears a wig.

* Sir Mark Potter, the most senior family judge, meant well when he gave a character reference for Bruce Hyman, the former barrister convicted of trying to pervert the course of justice in a family case. But Simon Eades, the former husband who almost faced similar proceedings had he not exposed Hyman as the source of a bogus court document, has lodged a complaint about Sir Mark with the Office for Judicial Complaints, which has been referred to Lord Justice Scott Baker to investigate.

* Heather Mills still apparently has no lawyer lined up for her court case with Sir Paul McCartney, due towards the end of February. While she casts about for a divorce specialist, she could do worse than engage the prominent media lawyer Mark Stephens. He advised her before – when she first met Sir Paul and was anxious about how the story would play in the media.

* The magazine Criminal Law Week is celebrating its 500th issue. It started with two subscribers 11 years ago – now it has more than 15,000 – including judges, police, lawyers, prosecutors, magistrates, is read online and runs distance learning courses for lawyers. James Richardson, the editor, is also proud that it supports pro bono and has raised more than £110,000 for Toynbee Hall in London’s East End.

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