Four decades later the PCA has replaced the DUI, it’s open slather in licensed premises, the TAB killed off those bookies and Lithgow hasn’t had a decent swy game raid in years.

The law these days is much more structured — and a lot less colourful.

Today Ross Higgins celebrates his 40th anniversary in the profession, admitted as a lawyer on June 14 1974.

Ross joined his father Ian, and brother Philip, in the family practice and subsequently became principal in 1987 after Ian retired and Philip set up his own practice, first at Blackheath and later at Laurieton.

In that 40 years he has seen the best and worst of society.

The two up raids were seen as something of a game rather than a serious offence with those arrested routinely giving false names that never seemed to be queried.

The illegal SP bookies who operated in just about every pub and behind closed doors took it in turns to take the fall in an occasional police raid.

These days life is more serious for all in the legal profession.

There was the abolition of death duties, changes to the Family Law Act to allow for ‘no fault divorce’, introduction of numerous tribunals, and huge changes to litigation for personal injury — ‘… not in the interests of workers and other injury victims’.

Ross is also critical of ‘the greed of insurance companies’ which he says has driven up the cost of Green Slips.

“They had agreed to eight cents in the premium dollar,” he said.

“Now their share is up to 24 cents and they still want more.”

Forty years down the track and adjusting to those times of change Ross has no immediate plans to retire — or to leave Lithgow.