The Gazette 1961

of the work done by these gentlemen during the

past year.

Post-graduate legal education

?3;When my predecessor, Mr. Overend, addressed

you in general meeting last year, he told you that

arrangements would be made for a series of lectures

by qualified lawyers on matters which had been the

subject of legislative change during the year. I am

glad to say that your Council have been able to

make arrangements in this regard and in the near

future—starting next month—lectures will be given

in Tax Law, Company Law and Town Planning

and these lectures will, if suitable, be subsequently

published by the Society in booklet form.

Your Council is very sensible of the lack of legal

textbooks and the difficulty in affording to our

members up to date books dealing with our ever

changing laws. I am, however, gkd to note that a

book on the Practice and Procedure in Administra

tion and Mortgage Suits

in Ireland has been

published by Mr. John W. Scanlon, Barrister-at-Law,

Examiner of the High Court, and I recommend

this publication to you. It is also gratifying to note

that the General Council of the Provincial Solicitors'

Association have kept this very pressing problem in

mind, and have published a very useful booklet by

Mr. M. K. O'Connor, Barrister-at-Law, entitled

" A Guide to the Death Duties in Ireland ".

Law Calendar and Directory

The Society's Law Calendar and Directory were

first published over seventy-five years ago and over

the years the matters necessarily included therein

have rendered publication to be somewhat unwieldy.

Your Council has, therefore, decided in future to

issue this publication in two parts—the first of

which will be called the Calendar and will include

all the permanent matter not requiring revision

from year to year, such as the Solicitors' Acts and

the Charter under which your Council exists, but

provision will be made to keep this volume up to

date by the insertion of supplements as and when

the occasion should arise.

The second part which will be called " the

Directory " will contain the Register of Solicitors,

lists showing the names of the judiciary, members of

the Bar, the personnel of Government Departments

and Offices and other matters of a changing character.

It is hoped that by this revision the Council will have

made its Calendar and Directory of greater use and

assistance to the members of our profession.

Membership of Society

The Council are grateful for the support which the

members of the Society have been at all times ready

to give for any proposal for the betterment of our

professional lot.

In this regard, may I stress the

importance of every solicitor practising in the

State being a member of the Society. Today an

unorganised body can get nowhere and it has never

been so important to achieve a position in which

the Council may speak for the profession with one

voice and with such authority to ensure that that

voice will be heard.

Bar Associations

I also appeal to each member of the Incorporated

Law Society to be an active member of his local

Bar Association. It is at local level that many of our

problems are best solved and the harmony that

exists between members of our profession is most

striking in areas where there is a live energetic

local association.

Registration of Title Bill

You are, no doubt, aware of the introduction in

Dail fiireann of a new Registration of Title Bill

which envisages the ultimate transfer to the Land

Registry of dealings in land and property at present

registered in the Registry of Deeds. Your Council

are always ready to give their support and encourage

ment to any project which will enable the solicitors'

profession to give better service to .the community

and while the passing of the Registry of Deeds

will leave a nostalgic pang, we view the new

proposal with interest.

. They, however, trust that before any additional

work is placed upon the Registrar of Titles and his

ever courteous and kindly staff that due provision

will be made to cope with the increased volume of

business both as to the provision of personnel and

the making available of suitable accommodation.

Legal Aid

Regulations have been drafted pursuant to the

Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act, 1962, and are at

present the subject of discussion between your

Council and officials of the Department of Justice.

Your Council have informed the Minister that they

view this novel subject as most important in the

social legislation of the State and that they are anxious

to evolve a scheme that will make it work and work

well.

It is invisaged that each County Registrar shall

prepare a panel of all solicitors practising in his

area who are willing to act for persons who in

criminal matters are granted certificates for free

legal aid.

Your Council hope at a very early date to agree to

proposals in the regulations regarding costs and

expenses so that this important reform will soon be

in force.

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