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GAZETTE
N E W S
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1994
V i c e - P r e s i d e n t
O b t a i n s H o n s L L .B
D e g r e e
Patrick
O'Connor
Junior Vice-President of the Law
Society,
Pat O'Connor,
was recently
conferred with an honours LL.B. degree
from University College Galway. He
obtained his first law degree from
University College Dublin in 1973 and
was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in
1974. For the past two years he has been
attending the Faculty of Law in
University College Galway where he
undertook further studies particularly in
European law, competition law and
company and commercial law.
Pat O'Connor is a notary public and
coroner for Mayo East. He has been a
member of the Law Society Council
since 1978 and has served on a wide
range of Law Society committees
including terms as chairman of the
Education, Registrar's, Professional
Purposes, Annual Conference and
Parliamentary committees.
Last year his firm, P O'Connor & Son,
was the second firm of solicitors in
Ireland to obtain the Quality Mark and
the first firm in the West of Ireland to
do so.
•
I n t h e H e a t o f t h e
M o m e n t . . .
Every letter or telephone call of
complaint to the Law Society is
treated with the utmost seriousness by
the staff in complaints section of the
Society's Professional Practice
department. Nonetheless, in some
cases, in the heat of the moment,
complainants and solicitors use
the odd phrase which can cause
a smile.
"My solicitor didn 't turn up to
represent me and all I got was a lot of
excuses about him having had a heart
attack. "
'' Defo rmat ion of character"
"I don't believe making complaints
unless they're really
unnecessary"
"I'm ringing on behalf of my mother,
I'm her daughter"
"Despite being unaware of the
planning difficulties X never
communicated the information to me. "
"Four of us own one third each. "
"Unfortunately X
(another solicitor in
the firm)
had a heart attack. . . and
has survived"
(a solicitor's letter).
"I have six children, two living in
Ireland and five abroad. "
"X gave physio treatment to a man
who consequently died. "
"I want to complain about my wife \v
solicitor who sent me a letter about
a judicial separation, but my wife
and I have a marvellous
relationship. "
"In relation to this particular
complaint we are happy to report that
we have eventually received a
response from the vendor's
solicitors
which is totally unhelpful"
(a
solicitor's letter).
C l a r k e C o n t i n u e s t o
O p p o s e " C a p p i n g "
Frank Clarke SC
Following his election as Chairman of
the Bar Council for a second year,
Frank
Clarke SC
said that he would continue to
oppose vigorously the proposed capping
of personal injury awards.
Frank Clarke was first elected as
Chairman of the Bar Council in July
1993 having previously held positions
as Treasurer and Vice-Chairman of the
Bar Council. He was called to the Bar in
1973 and took silk in 1985.
Following his election he stated "I am
honoured to have been elected for a
second term as Chairman of the Bar
Council and will continue to press for
improvements in the operation of the
courts and of the criminal and civil legal
aid system". He added: "With my
colleagues in the Bar Council I will also
continue to oppose vigorously the
proposed capping of personal injury
awards which in my view would be
against the public interest. However, we
are conscious of the need to reduce
costs in such cases and we have made a
number of proposals to the Government
with a view to containing them."
James Nugent SC
was elected Vice-
Chairman of the Bar Council.
•
E X P E R I E N C E D
Solicitor wishes to acquire
general practice either by
outright purchase or terms.
Location not of prime importance.
All replies acknowledged
and confidentiality assured.
Replies to: Box No 80
Cot Deaths Kill
Perfectly Healthy
Babies
II your elienl wishes lo
make a will in favour of
Cot Death Research
Telephone
8747007
( 2 4 H o u r H e l p L i n e )
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