practising, is closing down his one-man law firm next year after 24 years in business.

Mr. Smith, 71, who has been practising law for 45 years, is taking up a full-time consultancy post with Mello, Hollis, Jones and Martin on April 1, 1993.

Until then, his firm is continuing to operate as normal and is offering its usual range of services to clients.

Mr. Smith's decision was prompted by the forthcoming retirement of his long-time assistant Mrs. Betty Doughty.

Mrs. Doughty, 63, who is everything from business manager to chief accountant and head conveyancing clerk, is retiring to spend more time with her family and to concentrate on one of her main hobbies, writing.

The grandmother-of-six has worked with Mr. Smith for more than 30 years, including a spell with him while he was a partner at Hallett, Whitney and Patton.

Mr. Smith's law firm will officially close on March 31, 1993, but Mrs. Doughty is likely to stay on for a short period after this date to complete the winding up the company's affairs.

Mr. Smith said he was left with three choices when Mrs. Doughty announced a few months ago that she wanted to retire.

He said he could retire himself, replace her, or join a larger law firm as a full-time working consultant.

He did not want to retire and considered Mrs. Doughty to be "irreplaceable''.

So he opted for the latter choice.

"I would never feel right about working in a single lawyer law practice without her,'' he said.

The primary reason for joining another, larger, law firm was that it was in the best interests of his clients.

"I did not want to retire and leave them high and dry,'' he said. "We thought I should approach Mello, Hollis, Jones and Martin, which I did, and they welcomed the idea. "I'm going to a firm with competent young lawyers who will be able to take care of my clients, many of whom have been very faithful and loyal to us. Our primary obligation is to them.'' An additional reason for continuing to practise is because of his position as chairman of the Government-appointed Law Reform Committee.

Government has asked the committee to review and codify Bermuda's out-of-date real property law.

"It would be better from my point of view if I was still practising while this review was being carried out,'' said Mr. Smith.

Mr. Smith was called to the Bar in England in 1947. After a spell at Hallett, Whitney and Patton, he set up his own law firm on April 1, 1969. Since then, he has represented almost 8,000 clients.

The company is a general practise, handling domestic conveyancing, wills, probates, trade marks and, in a small way, local company law.

Mrs. Betty Doughty, who is retiring, and lawyer Mr. Peter Smith, who is closing down his one-person law firm.