The Gazette 1993

GAZETTE

MARCH 1993

N W E S Council Endorses Review of Education and considers other current issues

At the January meeting of the Law Society Council, the members passed a resolution endorsing a review of the system of professional education and training of solicitors. The resolution was as follows:- "This Council recognises that difficulties presently exist for students seeking to be admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Ireland due largely to: a. the economic difficulties in this country; b. the cost of third level education; c. other problems that exist within and outside the control of solicitors. It endorses the direction given to its Education Committee to comprehensively review the present education system and bring forward suggestions for its reform and change if deemed necessary. The Council requests that such enabling sections as may be necessary to give effect to such reforms and changes that may be approved of in due course be included in the Solicitors Bill shortly to be re-introduced to the Dáil." The Council of the Law Society returned to the issue of education policy at its meeting held on 12 February. The Chairman of the Education Committee, Pat O'Connor, reported to the meeting that 380 persons had sat the First Irish Examination held recently and 372 had passed it. Following the Parchment Ceremony later that day, there would be 5,007 solicitors on the Roll. The Professional Course due to commence in November, 1993 was already full. These facts further highlighted the need for an entire review of the admission procedure, education and training of solicitors.

Practice Management Committee, Justin McKenna, reported that in addition to quality forming the theme of the Law Society's Annual Conference next May, the committee hoped to stage a large scale seminar on the topic later in the year and there would be a series of follow-up courses. A series of articles on various aspects of good practice management would be published in future issues of the Gazette. Ward McEllin, Chairman of the Compensation Fund Committee, reported to the meeting on the level of applications for 1993/94 practising certificates. He said the Society's accountants would commence a "war of attrition" against those who had not applied for practising certificates or had not complied with the Solicitors Accounts Regulations. Injunctions would be sought against late applicants in appropriate cases. At the February meeting the Council considered the views expressed by some members that an increasing number of solicitors were experiencing acute financial pressures in their practices because of the effect of the recession. This was all the more difficult at a time when competition in the profession was increasing due to the large number of newly qualified solicitors entering the profession. Fee income had not kept pace with workloads and lack of growth at a time of rising overheads was endangering the Financial viability of some practices. In the light of this situation, the Council decided to consider at a future meeting what steps could be taken to assist the profession at this difficult time. Some members favoured allocating a special, day-long meeting of the Council to the issue and this will be considered again at the March meeting of the Council. • Practising Certificates Financial Pressures

All members of the Council were asked to obtain the views of members of the profession as soon as possible with a view to having an interim report drafted promptly. Disciplinary Cases At the January meeting, the members of the Council approved the format and style of reports of disciplinary cases heard in the High Court after 1 January, 1993 that would be published in the Gazette from now on. (The reporting of disciplinary cases commences this month, see page 75). Justice Media Awards Competition The Council also approved the appointment of a Justice Awards Standing Committee which will adjudicate upon the entries to the Society's Inaugural Justice Media Awards Competition. The committee comprises Ken Murphy, Chairman; Justin Condon, Dr. Eamonn Hall, Maeve Hayes, Brian Mahon, Michael O'Mahony, Eva Tobin and Barbara Cahalane. At the February meeting, the Chairman of the Criminal Law Committee, Michael Staines, reported to the Council that the regulations on the new scale of Criminal Legal Aid fees had only now been finalised and were with the Attorney General. The Council endorsed a proposal that the Director General would write to the Secretary of the Department of Justice indicating that the Council was extremely concerned at the delay in drawing up and promulgating the regulations and at the consequent delay in paying the higher fees agreed some five months previously. Criminal Legal Aid Fees

Quality and Practice Management

The Chairman of the newly-formed

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