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GAZETTE
SEPTEMBER 1988
REPORT ON JOINT LEGAL
EDUCAT ION CONFERENCE
-
KINSALE - MAY 1988.
Reciprocity of qualification was the
mo st impo r t ant topic at this years
C o n f e r e n ce of t he E d u c a t i on
Authorities of the four Law Socie-
ties in Great Britain and Ireland.
It is a topic of major interest to
t he profession, especially to our
younger solicitors w h o w i sh to
seek emp l o yment in other jurisdic-
tions. It is of course also a subject
being considered by t he European
Commu n i ty but this Conference
was concerned w i t h the movement
be t ween England, Scotland, Ireland
and the North of Ireland. There is,
currently, a heavy demand for legal
personnel in t he sou th of England
and many of our young solicitors
have taken up legal wo rk there but
unfortunately, not as recognised
and qualified solicitors in England
and Wales.
The good news f r om t he Con-
f e r ence is t h at t he Edu c a t i on
Comm i t t ee of t he Law Societies
representing these four jurisdic-
tions are all firmly of t he v i ew t hat
there should be the ma x i mum ease
of mo v eme nt and recognition of
q u a l i f i c a t i o ns
w i t h i n
t h e se
jurisdictions. A nd w i t h t he objec-
tive of achieving such ease of
mo v eme nt a special sub -Commi t-
t e e has b e en e s t a b l i s h ed t o
consider and report on the mini-
m um requirements of each home
c oun t ry for a solicitor mo v i ng f r om
any of t he other jurisdictions.
It is intended to t ry and progress
this as quickly as possible and
independently of t he European
Commu n i ty requirements (while
bea r i ng t h e se r e q u i r eme n ts in
mind). From the Irish standpoint we
will be seeking to remove the major
obstacles of (1) t he c ompu l s o ry
Irish Examination (2) t he s t a t u t o ry
r e q u i r eme nt f or a t h r ee year
apprenticeship. This will require
certain changes in t he Solicitors'
Ac ts and, of course, t he approval of
t he Society. The problems in t he
other jurisdiction are d i f f e r ent and
do not require Ac ts of Parliament
but will require the approval of their
respective Law Societies. Mu ch
remains to be done but hopefully a
good start has been made.
Mu t ual Recognition
of Qualification
A t present solicitors f r om t he
Republic mo v i ng to t he o t her
jurisdictions have varying require-
men ts to meet. The English Law
Society gives little recognition to
t he Irish qualification and requires
c omp l e t i on of t he academic and
vocational stages of education and
t r a i n i ng a l t h o u gh
I r i sh
L aw
graduates are given exemp t i on
f r om c e r t a in s u b j e c ts in t he
Common Professional Examination.
All, however, mu st undergo a one
year full-time course before sitting
t he Final Examination and serve
under Ar t i c l es of Clerkship
-
before or after the one year course
- for a t w o year period. The
Sco t t i sh Law Society on t he other
hand, applies t he same require-
ments to English and Irish solicitors
of three years' standing. They can
be a dm i t t ed i mmed i a t e ly after
passing the Society's examinations
in Conveyancing, Evidence, Sco ts
Private Law and Scots Criminal
Law. The Northern Ireland Law
Society normally requires service
for one year in a solicitor's o f f i ce in
Northern Ireland as well as sitting
certain subjects as de t e rmi ned
f r o m t i me t o t i me by t h a t
jurisdiction.
Wh a t is n ow sought is agree-
m e n t on b a s ic
e x a m i n a t i on
requirements - not envisaged as
extensive - for transfer w i t h in t he
four jurisdictions w i t h little or no
service requirement in t he new
jurisdiction for those of three years'
standing. These service require-
ments are expected to cease in any
event after t he 1992 European
Commu n i ty Directive c omes into
force.
The Conference appointed a sub-
Comm i t t ee to advance t he recip-
r ocal a r r a n g eme n ts under t he
general t e rms of p r omo t i ng ease of
mo v eme nt w i t h t he specific tasks
of identifying wh at areas of practice
C O M P A N Y
S E C R E T A R I AL
C O N S U L T A NT
PETER H. QUINLAN
MBA, AITA
OFFERS
A
COMPLETE
COMPANY SERVICE
Advice on Corporate Procedures
Drafting of Resolutions and Minutes
Arrangement of Company Meetings
Searches and Updates of
Company Records
Filing Returns and Other Compliance
67 LANSDOWNE ROAD
DUBL IN 4
Tel.: (01)684245
SADSI
(Solicitors Apprentices
Debsting Society of
Irelsnd)
ELECTION
FOR THE POSITION
OF
AUDI TOR
All interested candidates
must have their applications
proposed and seconded and
t hen lodged w i t h The L aw
Society
before
28 Oc t obe r,
1 9 8 8.
205