The Gazette 1994

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GAZETTE OCTOBER 1994
N E W S
P r a c t i c e
M a n a g e m e n t
G u i d e l i n e s A p p r o v e d
The Council of the Society has
approved the text of Practice
Management Guidelines, intended as
a practical management tool for
solicitors. (See Gazette p. 248 June
1994.)
The Guidelines have been developed
by the Practice Management
Committee and will be distributed to
each firm of solicitors in mid-
October.
The Guidelines will be presented in a
ring binder and, over the coming
months, the Practice Management
Committee will be publishing a series
of Practice Management Notes which
will be distributed to members of the
profession via the Gazette in a format
suitable for storing in the Guidelines
binder. •
L a w D i r e c t o r y
1 9 9 5
Work has commenced on the
compilation of the 1995 edition of the
Law Directory which will reflect the
status of members of the Society as on
l November 1994.
All members of the Society are asked
to ensure that they have checked the
Law Directory forms sent to them last
September showing the details that
will be published about them and/or
their firm.
S m a l l F i r m s g i v e
S o l i c i t o r s 9 0 %
A survey conducted by the Small Firms
Association of the relationship between
small firms and their solicitors found
that over 90% of respondents were
either satisfied or very satisfied with
the services provided by their solicitors
and 72% felt they had got good value
for money for the fees paid for legal
services. According to the survey, 79%
of respondents said they were not kept
informed by their solicitors about
changes in legislation.
The details of the survey in which 436
small firms participated and which was
conducted by the SFA in association
with Partners-at Law, Solicitors, were
released on 26 September.
Only 15% of those respondents who
said they were dissatisfied felt that
their solicitors were too expensive. The
most common complaints were about
delay and lack of communication.
The survey found that fees were agreed
in advance with 25% of respondents.
In a statement to the press, the Law
Society welcomed the 90% satisfaction
finding. On the question of delay the
Society pointed out that frequently
delays were not the fault of solicitors
but arose from understaffing in public
departments and a poorly-resourced
courts system.
The Law Society statement pointed out
that the Solicitors (Amendment) Bill
would oblige solicitors to agree in
advance with a client the fee for the
legal services being provided, or supply
an estimate, or information about the
basis on which the client would be
charged - a measure which, in the
Society's view, would benefit consumers
and the solicitors' profession. •
C o m p e n s a t i o n
F u n d P a y m e n t s -
S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 9 4
The following claim amounts were
admitted by the Compensation Fund
Committee and approved for payment
by the Council of the Law Society at
its meeting in September 1994.
IR£
Michael Collier, 11,418.12
2 Ross Terrace,
Malahide,
Co. Dublin.
John J O'Reilly, 5,337.54
7 Farnham Street,
Cavan,
Co. Cavan.
Michael Dunne, 405.00
63/65 Main Street,
Blackrock,
Co. Dublin.
Diarmuid Corrigan, 2,967.50
6 St. Agnes Road,
Crumlin,
Dublin 12.
James C Glynn, 4,410.00
Dublin Road,
Tuam,
Co. Galway.
Peter M Fortune, 1 1,776.60
38 Molesworth Street,
Dublin 2.
Jonathan P T Brooks, 1,000,000.00
17/18 Nassau Street,
Dublin 2.
1,036,314.76
Any member of the Society who has
not returned the form should do so
immediately if any changes are
required. If there are no changes
there is no need to return
the form.
The 1995 edition of the Directory will
be dispatched to members of the
Society in early January. •
English Agents: Agency work
undertaken for Irish solicitors in
both litigation and non-contentious
matters - including legal aid. Fearon
& Co., Solicitors, Westminster
House, 12 The Broadway, Woking,
Surrey GU21 5AU.
.
Fax:
ARAB LAWS:
Established London Barrister with Contacts.
Available for advice on Construction /
Commercial Agreements / Disputes
Negotiations / Marriage & Probate.
International Law Chambers:
Tel:(0044-71 221 5684)
Fax:(0044-71 221 5 685 )
•
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