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GAZETTE
SEPTEMBER 1993
wish to know that in our neighbouring
island, senior judges are to experiment
with bare-headed justice for a short
period, probably in the autumn.
Surprisingly, there was an
overwhelming verdict from the
majority of the legal profession and
the public in England and Wales that
wigs should stay, but some senior
judges in England, particularly the
Lord Chief Justice and the Lord
Chancellor, considered that the
shedding of wigs would remove much
of the public misunderstanding about
the judiciary. Lord Taylor, the Lord
Chief Justice, was quoted as saying
that the wigs made judges took
slightly ridiculous.
Some lawyers and judges, however,
are in the vanguard of the movement
for reform, particularly those in the
commercial court who are working in
a more international atmosphere and
where clients are accustomed to
wigless lawyers and judges;
accordingly, the Court of Appeal and
commercial judges are expected to
appear bare-headed sometime in the
autumn.
The Secrets of Success
What distinguishes the most successful
legal firms from ordinary firms in the
same market? David H. Maister, a
consultant for professional services
firms at Maister Associates in Boston,
USA, writing in
The American Lawyer
and
Legal Business,
May 1993, noted
that his experience suggested that it
had little to do with creative strategies
or unique management systems, or IQ
or professional talent. He noted that the
partners he met in the most successful
firms were not consistently smarter or
even more talented that their counter-
parts at other firms. What was notice-
ably different at the best firms was a
characteristic he variously described as
"energy, drive, enthusiasm, motivation,
morale, determination, dedication and
commitment."
Maister was of the view that two
factors played a particular role in
creating this dynamism: the skills and
behaviour of the managing partners.
He noted in firms all over the world
that marked changes occurred in
performance from the same group of
lawyers where the only thing that
changed was a new individual
appointed to the leadership of a
practice. The writer compared a
professional practice to a sports team,
filled with talented athletes who will
only win if they fulfil their potential.
When left to their own devices,
professionals like athletes, do not
accomplish as much as they do when
they are supported by a good coach.
The writer noted that some lawyers
may say that their partners are self-
motivated and do not need attention;
but good coaching and supervision
were required at all firms. Readers
may be interested in noting that the
best motivators in firms did not "turn
on" or motivate others by speeches,
vision statements or inspirational
group meetings. It was considered that
the only truly effective way to
influence people was one-on-one, that
is, individualised closed-door attention
- where possible. By paying attention
to the individual, the partner
responsible was able to monitor the
person and offer substantive
suggestions.
•
In 1992 Cot Death
Killed 59 Irish Babies.
If your client wishes to
make a will in favour of
Cot Death Research:
Telephone 01 - 8747007
(24 Hour Helpline)
SOLICITORS
BOOK-KEEPING BUREAU
A COMPLETE BOOKING-KEEPING
AND PAYROLL SERVICE
Manual/Computerised
Debtors/Creditors/VAT
Cash flows
Payroll/PAYE/PRSI
Contact:
Patricia Brennan
Tel: (01) 8411179
Compensation Fund -
Payments Out - July,
1993
The following claim amounts were
admitted by the Compensation Fund
Committee and approved for payment
by the Council at its meeting in July
1993:- The name of the solicitor in
respect of whose defalcation the
claim arose is listed in the left hand
column.
John Kiernan Brennan,
Mayfield,
Enniscorthy,
Co. Wexford.
Christopher Forde,
52, O'Connell Street,
Ennis,
Co. Clare
James C. Glynn,
Dublin Road,
Tuam,
Co. Galway
John J. O'Reilly,
7 Farnham Street,
Cavan.
Michael Dunne,
63/65 Main Street,
Blackrock,
Co. Dublin.
Conor Killeen &
Elio Malocco
Chatham House,
Chatham Street,
Dublin 2.
Jonathan P. T. Brooks,
17/18 Nassau Street,
Dublin 2.
IR£
90,718.45
12,174.24
1,313.00
470.00
4,560.00
1,956.85
9,448.20
120,640.74
257