It seems there are more mysteries here than in Eleusis. Posters appear overnight suggesting a few select individuals are members of Dionysos’ alliance soular, with no obvious reason for their being bundled together. What bizarre group of activists could have thought this might be useful? They must be total dimwits, one of the few accusations not being flung at lawyers these days. In fact, we might have had a chat earlier had I realized your association has nothing to do with watering holes, the kind of Coin Ideal where you might meet solicitors and other notarial people.

Some of your members, perhaps decked in mascara, appear to have developed a fondness for preprandial strolls in the region of a low-security prison, before dining out on the proceeds. Presumably, the fishing there is nowadays more fruitful than in the lagoons. You might have thought those with “a strong sense and understanding of ethics” would feel uncomfortable dealing, so to speak, with drug barons. Still, unlike other marchands at least they’re ambulants.

In Ancient Athens, while citizens were supposed to plead their own cases in court, individuals increasingly started seeking help from a friend, often a wellknown orator acting purely out of altruism. Indeed, no-one could take a fee (mirobolant or otherwise) to plead the cause of another. Now there’s a thought – although even now some of your members do take on cases out of pure benevolence. Others don’t need court work, as they’ve managed to milk the public sector system – in a variety of roles. That’s no allusion to members of the House. Just as the orators assembled in the agora, who could be considered forerunners of modern-day barristers, they speak for what is just and noble.

By the way, how do you feel about the re-introduction of the death penalty for dealers? Not that society’s problems are limited to the drug trade, so it could also be extended to corruption, fraud and tribalism, all motivated by self-interest and greed. Mind you if all the avaricious were given the chop, who’d be left? It wouldn’t just be prominent figures like politicos, police and prison officers, customs officials and socio-culturals, not to mention lawyers, who’d bite the dust, but a host of admirable citizens. Still, at least with politicos, there could be the admirable side-effect of bringing a younger generation to the fore – although it’s yet to be proved that they’d be any less greedy than their forebears.

But let’s think positively. One of the problems of modern legal systems, with the US leading the way as usual, is how barristers exploit legal loopholes and technicalities. There’s a great opportunity for Mauritius to lead the world in decreeing that justice should be about deciding whether or not someone is guilty and not whether they can afford a skilful advocate. While technicalities might justify a reduced sentence, it’s inexcusable that the guilty can get off scot-free. Incidentally, you might urge the police to employ a few competent lawyers to help tighten up cases before they’re brought to court…

Meanwhile, your association is allegedly concerned with “the proper administration of justice” so why isn’t it urging measures to speed up the court system? Obviously, there would be less work for lawyers so perhaps “collegiality among barristers and other legal professionals” takes precedence. Why not urge your colleagues to follow the DPP’s example – stop protecting their backsides and start pressing for reforms?