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that the debating society has become almost the
only organ directly facilitating the student in this
regard.
We feel that the role we have outlined applies
to law students much more than it does to students
of other subjects. Knowledge, maturity and broad-
mindedness are the elements upon which justice
is based. They are also the characteristics which
distinguish the lawyer from the mere legal tech
nician.
Further, they are the requisites of a responsible
social conscience and a lawyer who is lacking in
that is betraying the best traditions of his profes
sion.
(3) The importance of debating in relation to
modern legal training
Ideally, we feel that legal education should be
geared primarily
towards
instilling
the above
qualities in trainee members of the profession.
Chief Justice Holmes of the American Supreme
Court has expressed the view that "the purpose of
legal education is not to train lawyers but to train
men for becoming lawyers".
However, the increasingly specialised nature of
legal training today frequently inhibits this devel
opment. Indeed, we believe that there is a great
danger that modern methods of legal training
may, of themselves, produce only young minds
crammed with technical knowledge and nothing
else.
The crowded syllabus, the increasing numbers
of students, the pressure on study facilities and the
rising exam standards in the universities may lead
many students to believe that the only purpose of
higher education is to get the exams and get out
as fast as possible.
Indeed, as final year apprentices, we have all
noticed a great decline in the quality of college
life in the last two or three years in U.C.D.,
where most apprentices are studying. The campus
spirit there is no longer conducive to meaningful
dialogue and is instead, mainly characterised by
brief acquaintainceships and superficial chit-chat
in the Main Hall.
In short, there is now little incentive for a
student to avail of the sort of extra-curricular
activities which may be beneficial to his develop
ment and which his syllabus is incapable of pro
viding.
We feel
that such an environment, however
inevitable its emergence, is nevertheless intolerable
for the full training of a lawyer. We recognise
therefore, that in order to safeguard his necessary
general training that the existing extra-curricular
activities should be availed of to the fullest extent
by any law student who is conscientious about his
career.
It seems to us that the law student debating
society is the main, if not the only, such organ.
We,
therefore,
recommend
that apprentices
recognise that active participation in debate is of
the greatest importance to them, both in their
legal training and in their proper development as
responsible individuals.
(4) The facilities for debating available to
solicitors' apprentices
The facilities available to the Solicitors' Appren
tices' Debating Society of Ireland are, without a
doubt, far better than those possessed by most
debating societies in any part of the country.
The Solicitors' Library in the Four Courts pro
vides an excellent debating chamber. In addition,
the society has access to the Council Chamber and
other rooms of the Incorporated Law Society of
Ireland for receptions, meetings, seminars, etc.
A major advantage is the supper provided after
each meeting. This is perhaps the society's most
valuable asset for the following reasons. Firstly,
it provides apprentices with the only significant
opportunity they have of building up a wide circle
of friends who will in later years be of great value
to each other as fellow-practitioners. It is very
necessary to appreciate that these contacts are
made at a most favourable stage in the appren
tice's career. It is of paramount importance to a
solicitor to know the people he is working with.
The opportunity of doing so may never present
itself in such abundance as
it does while an
apprentice.
In the second place, the suppers provide an
informal basis for discussion with visiting chair
men. In this way, an apprentice can benefit enor
mously from the opinions of distinguished people
whom he would not otherwise meet.
Finally,
the informal atmosphere which has
made the suppers so popular also encourages new
members to feel at home within a very short time
and makes the eventual delivery of a maiden
speech very much easier.
It should also be mentioned that the society
sponsors parties and dances which greatly enhance
its importance as a meeting place for students.
There are many incentives for those intending
to begin debating. Indeed, we do not subscribe to
the policy of keeping a high standard of debate
by relying on a few experienced speakers, thereby
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