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GAZETTE
JUNE 1988
From the President . . .
Professional Services, be they
medical, dental, legal or accounting
are all about solving problems. The
client goes to you because he
believes that you are the best person
who can provide the answer that will
satisfy him or dissolve his worry.
You must in the first instance be
able to identify the problem which
is often a long way from the query
which is presented to you and, in
certain cases, you may have to
convince the client that he does not
have a problem at all. You must,
therefore, be a good listener.
Secondly, if you are getting a
jumble of facts, it is a good idea to
send the person away to write it all
out. Often when they do this, they
don't need to come back as they
have solved their own problem.
Having identified the problem,
you must then give your advice as
clearly as possible. The problem
which is faced will be overcome.
The problem which is pushed under
the carpet will come back and
haunt you and the client.
The client is paying for advice. In
giving the advice, there must be a
demonstration of competence and
competence, like beauty, is in the
eye of the beholder. The way the
client is treated from the time he
crosses the threshold to the time
he leaves, the efficiency of the
office, the keeping of appoint-
ments, are all matters which will
influence the client but the central
reason why he comes to you is that
he believes you are the best person
to do what he wants.
Clients also like activity. Do you
dictate the letter when the client is
in the office? Do you send him a
copy? Do you send him the reply?
Clients will be much more satisfied
and happier paying your fees when
they see activity and service.
Your aim should be that your firm
should be seen as an effective solver
of problems which will give greater
peace of mind, confidence and a
better quality of life to your clients.
If you do this, you will not only
earn the gratitude of your clients
but you will also find your work to
be remunerative and rewarding.
o (vOvi A .^^U cwj
President
Cor respondence
Mr. James J. Ivers,
Director General,
The Law Society,
Blackhall Place,
Dublin 7.
25 April 1988
Dear Mr. Ivers,
You will recall writing to me
regarding the extension of social
insurance to the self-employed. The
following are the main features of
this extension as contained in the
Social Welfare Act which came into
force on 30 March 1988.
Under the scheme, which came
into effect this month, the self-
emp l oyed
are covered
for
contributory old age and wi dow 's
and orphan's pensions. The old age
pension will be payable from age
66 without a retirement condition.
Entitlement to this pension may be
obtained where a period of at least
10 years' insurance has been
completed before pension age. In
the case of w i dow 's pension the
minimum contribution period for
entitlement is 3 years. Provision is
made to enable previous insurance
as an employed person to be
comb i ned w i t h self-employed
insurance in cases where this may
be necessary to establish entitle-
ment to pension.
The contribution payable will be
related to income and the rate will
be 3% of reckonable income for the
1988/89 income tax year, 4% for
1989/90 and 5% in 1990/91 -
subject to a minimum contribution
of £4 per week or £208 per year.
Self-employed persons whose
incomes are not being regularly
assessed for income tax will be
subject to a flat-rate contribution of
£2 per week.
The income-related contributions
will be levied on income assessable
to tax, i.e. after expenses and
capital allowances have been
deducted. The same income ceiling
as applies to employees for PRSI
purposes, £16,200 for 1988/89,
will apply to the self-employed. The
new contribution, together with the
health contribution and employ-
ment levy, will be collected with
income tax. Arrangements for the
collection of the £2 per week flat-
rate contribution for those who are
not being regularly assessed for
income tax will be announced
shortly.
I enclose for your information a
copy of the Social Welfare Act as
passed.
Yours sincerely,
DR. MICHAEL WOODS T.D.,
Minister for Social Welfare.
APPRENTICES
Please note that the Civil
Litigation material for the
Professional Course has been
revised. Any apprentice who
attended the 16th, 17th or
18th Professional Course and
who would like a copy of the
upda t ed ma t e r i al shou ld
contact the Enquiries Office,
Education Department, Law
Society, Blackhall Place,
Dublin 7.
133