215 / 448
GAZETTE
JULY 1996
purchasers from attorneys which have
now been replaced by Section 18 of
this Act referred to above.
Section 17 updates the position
regarding the execution of general
Powers of Attorney (formerly Section 46
of the Conveyancing Act, 1881). Section
21 updates the position regarding
attested copies (formerly Section 48 of
the Conveyancing Act, 1881), by
providing that a Power of Attorney may
be proved by a production of a
solicitor's certified copy of the original.
It is still optional to deposit the original
Power of Attorney in the Central office.
Conclusion:
Finally, the Minister for Equality and
Law Reform,
Mervyn Taylor
, who
introduced this Bill and his departmental
officials, are to be congratulated for
producing this Act, which is more
progressive then the equivalent English
legislation, i.e. the Enduring Powers of
Attorney Act, 1985. It should also be
noted that the Minister and his officials
also took on board many amendments
suggested by The Law Society and the
Dublin Solicitors Bar Association. The
legislation follows a report of the Law
ReformCommission LRC 31 of 1989.
One minor defect, is that the new
legislation creating EPAs, does not
extend to matters relating to the donor's
healthcare, i.e. decisions regarding
medical treatment being carried out on
the donor. It is to be hoped that the Act
will be reviewed in a few years' time,
when any necessary amendments could
be made, including the provision for
healthcare decisions.
* John Costello is a solicitor with Eugene
F. Collins and is the Chairman of the
Taxation Committee.
•
Solicitors
Confidential
Helpl ine
JUST CALL
284 84 84
The sixth Setting Up in Practice
Seminar was held in the Law Society at
Blackhall Place on Friday, 17 May,
1996.
The seminar, which was organised by
the Practice Management Committee,
was attended by 19 participants. The
objective of the seminar was to
highlight to participants the importance
of actively managing all aspects of
their practice and also to put solicitors
who are at the same stage of their
career development in contact with one
The programme for this conference
included a most informative lecture
on the internet and the various legal
problems posed by this technology,
e.g. crime on the
internet/pornography, copyright
issues, advertising. It was explained
that the legislators in various
jurisdictions are examining how best
to deal with these issues. There was a
Gala Banquet on the Friday evening
which was also attended by the more
senior members of the Luxembourg
Bar.
The programme on Saturday included
a guided tour of the older parts of the
city and an African Art Exhibition.
I believe that this was the first
another. The seminar covered the
creation of a business plan, the
commercial reality of thefirst years in
practice, fees, marketing, client care
and professionalism.
The Law Society Council has passed a
Resolution to the effect that such
courses should become compulsory for
all solicitors setting up in practice or
entering partnership for thefirst time.
Regulations are currently being drafted
to implement this decision.
•
occasion that a representative from
the Law Society attended a Young
Bar Conference in Luxembourg and I
received very generous hospitality.
The President of the Luxembourg
Young Bar,
Guy Loesch
attended the
recent SYS Conference in Galway and
told me that he had really enjoyed it.
Overall the conference was very
successful and I met a number of
lawyers from Luxembourg. Belgium.
Holland and France who are keen to
develop links with young lawyers in
Ireland.
Robert Hennessx,
Younger Members
Committee
•
Conference du Jeunne Barreau -
Luxembourg 14/15 June 1996
Setting up in Practice Seminar
Some of the participants who attende the recent Setting Up in Practice seminar
199