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GAZETTE
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1992
Law School Fees to Increase
The Law School is into its
thirteenth year. In that time we
have run 29 professional courses
and to date approximately 1,700
have come through the system and
are practising as solicitors. This
represents almost 50% of the
practising profession.
In the next two years 700 new
solicitors will enter the market
place. This represents a growth in
the profession of 8.3% per year and
compares with our neighbouring
jurisdictions as follows:-
England
8.1%
Northern Ireland
5.8%
Scotland
5.7%
Admi ss i ons policy a success
When the Society introduced its
new admissions policy in 1989 by
allowing all university law gradu-
ates to enter, the Law School had
to gear up to meet the increased
demand. This had two immediate
consequences:
1. The number of courses was
increased to cope with the initial
bulge of students;
2. A formal examination system
was put in place to ensure con-
sistency of standards.
Both these measures have placed a
strain on the administration of the
school. As a direct result, there is a
bigger staff, more paper, more con-
tributors.
We have coped extremely well. The
profession at large has been en-
thusiastic in its support of the
School. Without the full co-opera-
tion of practitioners, the sytem
simply could not function.
Examination system t o stay
The exam system at Professional
Course level has proven to be a
success and will remain a feature
of the school.
The initial bulge has passed and we
are delighted to be able to restore a
more normal level of courses from
1992 onwards. This will ease the
strain and improve operations at the
school.
Coun t i ng the cost
The exam system, however, comes
at a price. Papers must be set, sat,
marked, assessed and reviewed.
The numbers sitting these exams
are always increasing because of
repeat candidates.
The heavy throughput of students
in the recent past covered the
increased cost. It is unfortunate
that in self-financing operations
such as this, any increase in costs
must be borne by the students for
it is they who will one day reap the
rewards the school has to offer.
The last fee increase took place
three years ago. An increase now
in all the school fees is inevitable.
I will table a proposal to the Council
Justin
McKenna
of the Law Society at its next
meeting and a decision will be
made. That decision will be laid
before the Houses of the
Oireachtas for adoption under a
s t a t u t o ry i ns t r umen t. It will
become e f f ec t i ve as of the
operative date contained within it.
It is hoped to introduce an incre-
mental device so that fee increases
will not come in fits and starts.
A cautionary note
A career in law still appears as an
attractive proposition to school
leavers. 420 candidates have
applied for this year's first Irish
examination. The Law Society has
coped w i t h the bulge w i t h
difficulty. One must question
whether the profession or the
marketplace can continue to
absorb the numbers.
•
Jus t in McKenna,
Chairman, Education Committee
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