The Gazette 1993

GAZETTE

SEPTEMBER 1993

Alliance was still hopeful that it might

achieve its withdrawal. The Society

would continue to campaign against the

tax as part of the Alliance.

Pilot Civil Legal Aid Scheme

The Council considered a proposal by

the Minister for Equality & Law

Reform for a pilot project which would

involve private practitioners in the

Scheme of Civil Legal Aid at District

Court level. The Minister was making a

sum of £100,000 available for the

project and he was proposing that

solicitors would act in judicial separa-

tion cases for a fee of £65 (exclusive of

VAT) less withholding tax.

The President of the Society said that

while the Minister was clearly enthusi-

astic about resolving the deficiencies in

the Civil Legal Aid system he proposed

to respond to the Minister on the basis

that the Council felt that the terms on

offer left them no option but to reject

the proposal. The Council agreed that

the fee being offered was derisory and

inadequate and endorsed the President's

approach.

Criminal Legal Aid

As part of the agreement concluded in

late 1992 with the Department of Justice

on criminal legal aid fees, it had been

agreed that special fees would be

negotiated in exceptional, complex

cases. The Criminal Law Committee

reported to Council that despite this

agreement the Department had not yet

put in place arrangements for determin-

ing the higher level of fees. The Council

gave the Committee approval to take all

necessary steps, including withdrawal

from the scheme, to ensure that the

Department met its commitment. The

Council also approved a proposal to

provide an indemnity to a colleague to

take an action challenging the linking of

solicitors' fees with counsels' fees.

Doctors' Ethical Guide

The Chairman of the Litigation Com-

mittee reported to Council that the

Medical Council had approved an

amendment to its Ethical Guide and

doctors were now under a strict obliga-

tion to provide medical reports when

requested to do so by parties to

litigation.

Seminars on Remuneration/Costs

The Chairman of the Remuneration/

I Costs Committee reported that a

seminar on costs would take place in

Dublin on 22 September in conjunction

| with the DSBA. All other bar

associations had been asked to suggest

dates and venues for holding of regional

seminars on the issue. In the meantime,

each practice would be issued with a

"ready reckoner" form to assist them in

calculating the cost per hour of running

their offices.

Northern Ireland Nominees

As is the tradition, the nominees of the

Law Society of Northern Ireland

attended the July meeting of the Council

| and at the meeting

Anthony McGettigan,

| President of the Law Society of

I Northern Ireland, thanked the President

and the Council for the welcome and

hospitality extended to the nominees

during their visit. While there was no

corresponding right for Law Society

j Council members to attend meetings of

the Council of the Northern Ireland Law

Society, Mr. McGettigan invited the

President, Senior Vice-President and

Director General of the Law Society of

Ireland to attend his Society's Council

meeting in August.

•

Sol ici tor Wins Young Bus iness Woman Award

Mairead Bourke,

admitted Trinity

1992, who set up practice in Westport

in September, 1992, won first prize in

the Young Business Woman Award,

Galway and District regional final.

Her "user friendly legal practice" won

out against some very tough

competition. As Chairman of the

Practice Management Committee, I

asked Mairead what she did

differently. She replied:

"My interest in good practice

management stems from my work

experience as a Socio Economic

Advisor with Teagasc and the

jaundiced view many of my farm

family clients held regarding the legal

profession. When I set up in practice

myself, I resolved to create a pleasant

and stress free atmosphere in the

office, as I was surprised that some

clients find it traumatic to have to

Mairead Bourke

breach the bastions of a lawyer's office.

My reception office is bright, dust free

and stocked with in date magazines, the

Irish Times

daily, plants and fresh

flowers and a small toy box (suggested

by a male colleague). I practice as a

matter of course eight out of ten

management tips suggested by

Brian

O'Reilly

in his recent article and have

taken note of the other two!"

"In addition, I see busy clients outside

of office hours. I note name of clients'

spouses and children, wherever

possible. I send out personalised

Christmas cards, which have a very

favourable response. I would always try

to keep the client informed of progress

on a file, and pre-empt the situation

where he/she contacts me to find out

! what is happening. It's a difficult one to

achieve with a heavy work load.

Finally, I make a point of always being

here to keep appointments and

telephone clients if there will be a

delay."

Congratulations Mairead, I'm sure your

I initiative will pay dividends.

! Justin McKenna

Chairman, Practice Management

Committee

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