The Gazette 1996

GAZETTE

APRIL /MAY 1996

C O R R E S P O N D E N C E

V

Successors in Title

so, and he went on to enquire h ow many firms in Ireland could join them in that tradition. I can c on f i rm that the firm of Pearts was c omme n c ed in or around 1883 by my Great-Grandfather and that I am the fourth generation in this firm in an unbroken line.

The Editor, The

Gazette, Law So c i e t y, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7. Law Society Reforms

The Editor, Law S o c i e ty Gazette, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7.

Dear Ma d am,

Dear Ma d am,

I May I reply to Mr. James J. O ' Co n n or i (Jan/Feb '96 Gazette p . 3 8) by citing 'Irish Pedigrees - John O'Hart ( 1 9 2 3) V o l ume I p.661: "1601: The O ' Ha g a n s, wh o se ! principal seat was at Tu l l a g h o g e, were j the Law - g i v e rs to the O ' Ne i l l s, Princes of Tyrone." A leg of the seat may since have mo v ed and a s e c o nd client acquired but like the battery - still working! But for recent ' R e v i e w ', consideration of a family career c h a n ge wo u ld have been called for, n ow h owe v e r, l o o k i ng forward to the Quatercentenary!

Yours sincerely,

In years to c ome it may be regarded as a test of o n es loyalty to the profession: the tiny proportion of our membership wh o endured to the end of this mo n t h 's Special General Me e t i ng will not forget it in a hurry. The hotly contested, s ome t i mes tetchy, debate wh i ch lasted the guts of six hours heralds a n ew, and it is to be hoped constructive, era in the S o c i e t y 's history. A f ew c omme n t s: aimed as much towards those w h o did not attend as those w h o did:- of those w h o have served the S o c i e ty d e v o t e d ly for the past generation or so appeared (not without reason) to feel t h ems e l v es under attack from the reformers. An ima t ed and constructive debate emph a s i s ed this divide but it must be put aside in the interests of the profession as a wh o l e. If, as o ne speaker asserted, the purpose of aspiring to high o f f i ce in the S o c i e ty is to a c h i e ve "power and influence", let us h o pe d e v o u t ly that the (mo s t ly y o un g e r) contributors in favour of reform are not simply s e e k i ng to replace the old brigade and create a n ew inner circle. 2. H o w e v er I do not b e l i e ve this to be the case. I am c o n v i n c ed that what was said in favour of reform was said with a g e nu i ne c omm i tme nt to the urgent n e e ds of the profession: and that those w h o d e f e nd ed to s ome measure the status quo did so largely for similarly altruistic reasons. No te well that the S o c i e ty 1. There was a marked "us and them" atmosphere at the meeting. Ma ny

Michael D.

Peart,

Pearts Solicitors, 24-26 Upr. Ormond

Quay,

Dublin 7.

Continuing Legal Education

The Editor, Law S o c i e ty Gazette, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7.

Dear Madam,

I recently attended an excellent seminar in the Law S o c i e ty on the 1995 Conditions for Sale. I understand that this seminar had also taken place in v e nu es outside of Dublin. The cost of this seminar was £ 3 5. In principle, I feel that as members of the Law Society we should not be charged by our Society to be informed as to changes they have made, on our behalf, to a document as fundamental as the standard Contract for Sale. Such seminars should be free. Continuing legal education is vital for our profession and the Society should be acting to encourage as many memb e rs as possible to participate in s ame - a well informed profession wo u ld lead, no doubt, to less n e g l i g e n ce claims!

Yours sincerely,

Donal P O 'Hagan, Donal P. O'Hagan

& Co.,

Courthouse

Square,

Dundalk, Co.

Louth.

The Editor, Law S o c i e ty Gazette, Blackhall Place, Dub l in 7.

Dear Ma d am,

I refer to the interesting letter written to y ou by James J. O ' Co nn o r, Principal and Senior Partner of M.J. O ' Co n n or & Co., Solicitors of We x f o r d, published in the January/February 1 9 96 Gazette where he states that wh en his daughter, Catherine, j o i n ed his practice in July 1993, she b e c ame the fourth generation in an unbroken line to do

Yours sincerely,

Patricia

McNamara,

McNamara

&

Company,

60 Upr Grand Canal

Street,

Dublin

4.

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