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COURT OFFICES
COMMITTEE
Ernest J. Margetson,
Chairman
Laurence Cullen
Felicity Foley
Christopher Hogan
Nicholas S. Hughes
Francis J. Lanigan
Patrick J. McEllin
William D. McEvoy
Dermot G. O'Donovan
John A. O'Meara
Robert McD. Taylor
Ernest J. Margetson.
Chairman
8.1 This Committee met regularly during the past year and considered and reported to the
Council on a number of different issues, which were raised by Members throughout the year.
The various subjects covered a very wide range and involved the delays in obtaining Local
Government Grants; payment of Land Commission costs by Bonds; questions on Stamp Duty;
practice of the Probate Office in relation to the acceptance of Affidavit of English law; liability
of a Solicitor to insure property; Road Traffic Act Fees; interest on deposits, and numerous
other matters.
8.2 A number of Members raised the question with the Committee regarding the Revenue
Commissioners' contention that the rate of duty applicable on a sale of leasehold property and
chattels should be based on the total value. This matter was referred to Senior Counsel and his
opinion is being published in the
Gazette.
8.3 The question of tendering Government Stocks in payment of Death Duties was con-
sidered and Members attention is drawn to the list of such Stocks which appears in the 1975
Directory. Most recent issues of the Stock are not acceptable.
8.4 The old question of inadequacy of notice given by the Legal Diary for the hearing of
Circuit Court actions in Dublin was considered. Members attention is again drawn to the
system of sending a postcard with the Notice of Trial, and also from enquiries made it is under-
stood that the Circuit Court are hopeful that an extended form of Legal Diary will soon be in
operation which will enable more advance notice to be given.
8.5 Once again, the question of increases in the Scale of Costs were raised and referred to the
Statutory Committees established for this purpose. Any provision now of course will presumably
have to await the outcome of the present investigation of Solicitors charges by the National
Prices Commission.
8.6 At the date of preparation of this Report, a meeting has been held with Representatives
of the Accident Claims Association in order to negotiate a substantial increase in the present
fees paid by Insurance Companies for defence and reports arising out of District Court
Dangerous Driving Prosecutions.
8.7 The Committee at all times is available to report to the Council on the administration
of Court Offices and all questions of costs and practise.
THE COURT OF
EXAMINERS
John F. Buckley,
Chairman
Maurice R. Curran
James W. O'Donovan
David R. Pigot
Mrs. Moya Quinlan
EDUCATION
SUB-COMMITTEE
John F. Buckley,
Chairman
Adrian Bourke
Maurice R. Curran
Nicholas Comyn
Joseph L. Dundon
John Hooper
John Mathews
David A. Moloney
E. Rory O'Connor
Maeve O'Donoghue
Brian Overend
John Ross
Laurence K. Shields
9.1 The year under review included a major turning point in the history of Legal Education and
represented the culmination of many years of endeavour by the Society. The new arrangements
for entry to the profession, which came into force on the 1st October, will in the normal way
require persons seeking to commence apprenticeship to be University Graduates, though the
Society has retained its Preliminary Examination which may be attempted by non-Graduates
and will also reserve the right to exempt bona fide Law Clerks of seven years standing from
the Preliminary Examination.
9.2 While the Court of Examiners has naturally been responsible for the implementation of
the new arrangements mostly through the provisions of the new Apprenticeship and Education
Regulations (S.I. No. 66/1975) the preparation leading to the new Regulations was largely in
the hands of the Education Sub-Committee and the Regulations themselves were iii fact drafted
for the Sub-Committee. I would like to pay particular tribute to Mr. E. Rory O'Connor and
Mr. John N. Ross for their work in drafting the new Regulations. Their task was made difficult
because of the necessity of drafting the Regulations within the framework of the Solicitors
Act 1954 which did not envisage an Education System of the nature now in force.
9.3 The work of the Sub-Committee is continuing and it will in the immediate future be
preparing detailed recommendations on the contents of the new Professional Course which the
Law Society will be running in its Law School from the year 1978 onwards. The Sub-Committee
will also be considering the establishment of courses for training Legal Executives since it is
now clear that there is a demand in the profession for Executives at a level a little below that
of the qualified Solicitor and it is also evident that there are persons who wish to make a career
in the Law at such a level.
9.4 The Court of Examiners itself, apart from considering and adopting the reports of the
Sub-Committee, has dealt with a great number of applications during the last year, many of
which arise from the great increase in the number of Apprentices. The Court of Examiners is
concerned to try to ensure, as far as possible in the present unsatisfactory circumstances, that
all Apprentices are given a proper training by their Masters.
9.5 The Court of Examiners has consulted on a regular basis with the Representatives of the
Apprentices throughout the year and these meetings have proved of considerable help to the
Court of Examiners in its work.
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