Solicitors Lotus, Spackman & Phelps (of Hounslow High Street) is staffed by an almost completely inept, but nevertheless rather enthusiastic and well-meaning, team.

Headed up by partners Colin Lotus (a young man, hopeless in law but transferred his late father's partnership), Dick Spackman (who isn't especially knowledgable with legal matters but loves sailing, golf and sherry), and Stella Phelps (reasonably talented, but especially prone to mood-swings), the business also comprises office manager Bob (hopelessly in love with Sarah, the delivery girl from the Mr Bappy sandwich bar downstairs), general dogsbody Darren, and the unbelievably lazy and useless secretary Alison ("You're only here because your boyfriend is an estate agent and puts a lot of work our way!").