The Gazette 1917-18

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

[MARCH, 1918

68

The President, when moving 'the motion, read the following address, which by permis sion, is here re-printed :— In the momentous times through which we are passing—probably the most momentous in the recorded history of mankind—it behoves every organised body of men to consider their position and what part they are fitted to play, in the period of reconstruction which is before us. Everything is to be changed. Nothing will be the same as in the pre-war days which now seem so far off. Amongst other things our opinions, our predilections and our prejudices, our methods and our institutions, must be reconsidered and brought into harmony with the altered needs of the times. Therefore we of this Society are only doing our duty as citizens and our duty to our profession in asking ourselves, as I invite you to do to-day, whether our present position and our relations to the public are satisfactory to ourselves and to the public, and whether we are fitted by our organisa tion, our traditions and our professional rules to play the part which the legal profession ought to play in the reconstructed body politic of which we have visions. And if our answers to these enquiries are not satisfactory to us, then it is our duty to search for the remedy. As a learned profession we claim that our vocation is not only one by which we live but is also one for which we live. In other words, we claim that having gone through a specialised educational training, our object is to supply to our clients disinterested counsel and service without expecta tion of any business gain to ourselves beyond the definite remuneration stipulated or fixed by law— that we can have no interest in the matters on which we advise except the interest of our clients, the safeguarding of which is the sole object of our intervention. If we had nothing but pecuniary rewards and honours to look to, our profession would not be one which it would be worth the while of a man of ability and character to follow. But as the medical profession ministers to the body and the clerical profession to the soul, so it is our office—and it is j a proud and high office—to safeguard and protect the fortune and business interests, and often the character and reputation, of those whom we serve, and thus to help to preserve to them the peace of mind without which life is not worth living. It is the performance of this duty which gives dignity to the profession and affords scope for energy and talent. We claim that in intention this high ideal is attained. If the intention is carried into practice, the result ought to be a feeling of regard and confidence on the part of the public towards our profession, which I am afraid it must be admitted is not fully attained. I do not wish to be mis understood. In many thousands of individual cases there does exist, I am happy to say, that feeling of regard and confidence on the part of the client towards his solicitor which is one of the consolations of an anxious and laborious profession. But towards the profession as a whole the public senti ment is far otherwise, and in my opinion it is wise

John

J. Mackenzie,

Solicitor,

114

Stephen's Green, Dublin. John R. Peart, Solicitor, 35 Westmore- land Street, Dublin. William P. Triston, Solicitor, i Dame Street, Dublin. John S. Dalton, Clerk of Petty Sessions, Abbeyfeale. Arthur A. Harris, Land Agent's Assistant, Mitchelstown. New Solicitors THE following were admitted during January and February, 1918 :— Name Served Apprenticeship to Crotty, James F. ... P. A. Murphy, Waterford Duffy, Edward Joseph .. William L. B. Cochrane, 18 Harcourt St.. Dublin Kelly, Richard Jasper... Edward McHug-h, 43 Rut land Square, Dublin Kelly, Thomas J. ... William P. Triston, i Dame Street, Dublin Kennedy, Patrick J. ... John H. Callan, i Suffolk Street, Dublin McCay, Cyril Francis ... Samuel Jones, Cavan Murphy,Chas. Kavanagh Michael Murphy, Cork Nally, William F. ... John J. McDonald, 116 Grafton Street, Dublin O'Reilly, William Ernest Edwin M. Llo)d,i3 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin Peart, John Redmund, exempt from apprenticeship under Section 29 of the Solicitors' (Ireland) Act, 1898. Ministry of Justice. AT a Special General Meeting of the English Law Society, held on the 25th January, 1918, the President (Mr. Samuel Garrett), on behalf of the Council of the Society, moved, and the Vice-President (Mr. R. A. Pinsent) seconded the following motion, which, after discussion, was adopted nem con :— " (i) That in the opinion of this General " Meeting of the Law Society a Ministry of " Justice is necessary in the national " interests." " (2) That a copy of the foregoing " resolution be sent to the Prime Minister, " the Lord Chancellor, the Minister of " Reconstruction, and to such other persons " as the Council may determine."