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GAZETTE
SEPTEMBER 1979
is evidence of an over supply of recently-qualified solicitors in the Dublin area and indica-
tions are that the numbers of positions available outside Dublin are few. The Society was
interested to note that the Law Faculty of University College, Dublin, had decided to
reduce its intake of students by ten for the academic year 1979-80.
10.5
One matter which came to the attention of the Committee was that of appren-
tices holding full-time jobs during their apprenticeship, some of them in the public service.
The Committee arranged for the publication of a notice in the
Gazette
reminding
apprentices and their masters of the need to obtain the consent of the master and of the
Society before engaging in any outside employment.
10.6
The Society was successful in persuading the Department of Education to make
students grants available to apprentices attending the Society's new professional course.
The particular thanks of the Society are due to the efforts of Mr. Seán Calleary, T.D.,
who first drew the attention of the Society to the anomoly whereby solicitors' apprentices
were excluded from such grants while students in similar categoreis were included and
who also made representations to the Department in support of the Society's case.
10.7
In the field of public relations the Society once again came under fire from
U.S.I. and other groups attacking the Society's decision to limit the numbers entering the
new professional courses and the fees for such courses. The Committee enlisted the assis-
tance of a firm of public relations consultants on the occasion of the opening of the new
Law School and their work was instrumental in achieving reasonably-balanced coverage
of the Society's position.
10.8
Among the other matters which the Committee dealt with during the year were
the arrangements under the new system for practising barristers who wished to become
solicitors, a computerised survey of the examination results of candidates and the old
system was updated, the application of the Unfair Dismissals Act to apprentices who
continued in employment after their indentures had expired.
10.9
The Committee expresses its particular gratitude for the work of all engaged in
the Law School during the last year.
1 í. 1
This Committee, which could be described as a "think-tank" for the Education
Committee, is chiefly concerned with the planning and supervision of the new training
system for apprentices.
11.2
The early part of the year was spent in the finalisation of the appointment of
consultants and tutors for the first professional course which began in February 1979 and
once the course had commenced the Committee through reports received by it from the
whole-time staff of the Law School monitored the operation of the course.
11.3
At the conclusion of the course the Committee received the results of detailed
surveys of the responses of the students attending the course, the consultants and tutors
who had participated in the course and the full-time staff of the Law School to the course.
The responses to the surveys which were very detailed have proved of enormous value to
the Committee in planning the second professional course which begins in November
1979 and the third course which will follow immediately afterwards.
11.4
The question of financial aids for the students attending the courses has been
under constant review and the Committee has recommended to the Council of the Society
that approaches should be made by the Society for recognition by the Higher Education
Authority as an educational body entitled to receive grants from the H.E.A.
11.5
The Committee has arranged a system of monitoring the service in masters'
offices of the apprentices who attended the first professional course. The three parts of the
new training system must be properly integrated if the training system is to operate satis-
factorily and it is essential that the period of service in the master's office is properly
planned to be of benefit both to the apprentice and the master.
11.6
The Committee has invited the University Law Schools to assist the Society in
planning for the final examination first part (the entry examination for the Society's Law
School) in order to ensure that the syllabi and examination papers do not diverge widely
from the courses taught and examinations set in the same subjects in the Law Faculties.
The University Law Faculties felt obliged to withdraw from co-operation with the Society
when the decision to limit entry to the Society's Law School was reached but it is hoped
that the Law Faculties will agree to participate in the proposed new arrangement.
EDUCATION
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
John F. Buckley
Chairman
Maurice Curnui
Claire Cusack
Frank Daly
Ernest B. Farrefl
Rory O'Donnell
Michael V. 0*Mahony
Harry Sexton
Francis E. Sowman
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