The Gazette 1992

GAZETTE

MARCH 1992

Solicitors Benevolent Association

In this article

Clare Leonard,

secretary of the Solicitors Benevolent

Association, describes the vital work

done by the Association to help

members of the profession, or their

dependants, who are in need through

illness, desertion, unemployment,

alcoholism or other reasons.

It sometimes occurs to me that while

members of the profession are aware

that funds are collected, if only

because members pay an annual

subscription with their practising

certificates, they have no very clear

idea of what role the Association

plays within the profession. This is

partly because assistance to

beneficiaries is provided on a

confidential basis.

The object of the Solicitors

Benevolent Association, which was

instituted in 1863, is to help needy

members of the profession and their

dependants throughout the entire

island of Ireland. It is funded by

voluntary contribution and functions

as a completely separate entity from

both Law Societies.

The directors, who give generously

of their time, meet on a monthly

basis to assess applicants, review

existing grants and monitor financial

resources. In order to ensure that the

Association is representative of the

profession at large, attention has

been given over the past couple of

years to appointing a number of

additional directors throughout the

country. At a recent meeting in

Dublin there were directors present

from Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim,

Tipperary, Cork, Belfast as well as

from Dublin. At least one or two

meetings every year are held at a

venue other than Dublin. There have

been several meetings over the past

number of years in Belfast, also in

Killarney, Kilkenny and Cork.

Traditionally, the profile of those

Clare Leonard

helped by the Association was that

of "distressed gentlefolk". This may

have been valid at some time in the

past but is no longer the case. We

still help elderly members of the

profession and dependants living on

fixed incomes but there is a growing

number of younger beneficiaries,

many with dependent children, who

are in need through illness,

desertion, unemployment, alcoholism

or for some other reason. We pay

out on average about £9,500 to

£10,000 every month and send out 55

to 60 cheques. We help different

people in different ways and great

care and attention is given to

establishing what the need of each

individual is. The Association

also employs the assistance of a

social worker on a part-time basis.

I am constantly heartened by the

courage of those we help some of

whom deal with very adverse

circumstances. As secretary, I get

some wonderful letters. I particularly

liked the one where we had been

helping a young wife, deserted with

two dependent children, who got

herself a job and managed her

affairs to the point where she no

longer needed our help although her

budget remained restricted. The

Association sent her a grant at

Christmas and her acknowledging

letter began "There is a Santa Claus

after all."

(Continued on page 70)

Golf Outings

Bring your clients, friends, relatives

Proceeds in aid of the Solicitors Benevolent Association

DATE

VENUE

O R G AN I S ER

Friday

Newlands Golf Club,

Oonagh Sheridan,

1st May 1992

Dublin

John Glynn & Co.,

Tel: 515099

Fax: 515120

Saturday

Connemara Golf

Michael Keane

9th May 1992

Course

Michael Keane & Company,

Tel: 094-71208

Fax: 094-71977

Friday

Waterford Golf

Neil Breheny

22nd May 1992 Course

Kenny Stephenson &

Chapman

Tel: 051-75855

Fax: 051-77620

Friday

Dundalk Golf

Cyril Coyle

12th June 1992 Course

Corrigan Coyle & Kennedy,

Tel: 042-40010

Fax: 042-40329