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suggestion and delegated to the President and the
secretary authority to make whatever
financial
arrangements would be necessary.
The following was among the business transacted :
Government Programme of Law Reform
The President stated that the reports of the
working parties on the Law Relating to Trusts and
the Liabilities of Innkeepers had been sent by the
Society to the Department of Justice. Reports on
the Law Relating to Guardianship of Infants,
Registry of Deeds and on the Law Relating to Wills
are in the course of preparation.
Solicitor acting in Conveyancing Transaction
where one of the parties is not repre
sented
A local bar association asked for the opinion of
the Council as to whether a rule by the Association
prohibiting members from acting for a party in a
conveyancing matter where the other party is not
professionally represented would be proper. It was
also suggested that the Society would consider
introducing such a rule under section 71 of the
Solicitors' Act, 1954.
The Council, on a report
from a committee, were of opinion that no rule of
the kind mentioned should be made by the Society.
It was also decided that the association concerned
could make such a rule binding on its members if
it wished, but that the Council cannot be taken as
approving of such a rule.
DEBT COLLECTING LETTERS
In Alien
v.
O'Callaghan (10 I.L.T.R. 131) the
Court strongly disapproved of the action of a
solicitor in making a demand for costs in a prelimin
ary letter written before the institution of proceedings
for a liquidated debt. The ground of the disapproval
of the Court was that the costs of such a letter are
not legally exigible and that it is improper for a
solicitor to make a demand under threat of proceed
ing for payment to himself of a sum which he
knows is not due. The Council are of the opinion
that such demands in debt-collecting letters are
unprofessional.
This opinion does not apply to
cases
in which payment before proceedings is
accepted by instalments with a condition that the
debtor shall indemnify the vendor against the costs
of collection or applications for costs in letters
demanding discontinuance of unlawful interference
with property rights or other unliquidated demands.
The Council are further of the opinion that
normally a preliminary letter should be written by
a solicitor to die debtor before instituting proceed
ings even although the costs may not be recoverable
between party and party. There is, however, no
impropriety in instituting proceedings without a
preliminary letter if in the opinion of the solicitor
for the creditor such a course is imperative in the
client's interests or if the solicitor is satisfied that the
client has before instructing him notified the debtor
in writing that failing payment of the debt by a
certain date instructions will be given to a solicitor
to institute proceedings for recovery of the debt
without further notice.
THE CIRCUIT COURT, EASTERN
CIRCUIT
An order has been made by the President of the
Circuit Court fixing the following dates for the
commencement of sittings of the Circuit Court for
the Michaelmas term, 1962, in the Eastern Circuit
instead of the dates already fixed: Dundalk—
Tuesday, 2nd October. Drogheda—Friday, I2th
October. Trim—Wednesday, lyth October. Kells—
Wednesday, 24th October. Wicklow—Wednesday,
31 st October. Wexford—Tuesday, 13th November.
Naas—Tuesday, 2yth November. Athy—Monday,
i yth December.
NOTICE
Take notice that the offices of all solicitors in the
towns of Monaghan, Castleblayney and Carrick-
macross will be closed on Saturdays on and from
Saturday the 3oth day of June, 1962.
The offices in the town of Ballybay of Mr. John
Corrigan, Messrs. Graham & Co., Mr. P. J.
McEntee, Mr. P. J. O'Gara and Mr. Thomas P.
Owens will also remain closed on all Saturdays
(except fair days) on and from 3oth day of June, 1962.
PRESENTATION OF ADMISSION
PARCHMENTS
At a ceremony in the Solicitor's Library, on the
24th May, 1962, the President presented certificates
of admission to the following newly admitted
solicitors:—
Michael J. P. Alien, 3 St. Francis Street, Galway;
Miss Mary P. M. Berkery, Slane, Co. Meath;
Robert A. Downes, Glenmore, Mullingar, Co.
Westmeath ; Fintan M. Barley (B.C.L.), Blackrock,
Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim; William S. Geraghty
(B.A., LL.B.), Galmon, Taylors Hill, Galway;
Edward R. A. Glover, 66 Landscape Road, Church-
town, Dublin; Lewis J. Goldberg, Ben-Truda,
Douglas, Co. Cork; Anthony C. Gore-Grimes
(B.A.), Howth Lodge, Howth, Dublin (Special
Certificate); Denis M. McDowell, 22 Dartmouth
Square, Dublin; Desmond J. O'Malley (B.C.L.),