183 / 300
12, The Law and Practice in connection with Wills and
the Administration of Estates; Paper 13, Land Law.
(iv) Examination in Book-keeping.
(v) Second Irish examination.
Present arrangements
Paragraphs 4 and 5 are covered by the President's
speech, see pp. 142-143, starting with "Under existing
arrangements, the Society requires apprentices to attend
University lectures . . . "
Reform of legal education
Paragraphs 6 and 7 are covered by the President's
speech, see page 143, starting with "Since 1961, it has
been the stated policy of the Society . . ."
New education regulations
Paragraph 8 is covered by the President's speech, see
page 143, starting with "Following consultation with
the Universities, the Society proposes that as from 1st
October 1975 . . . "
Details of Society's course
Paragraphs 9 and 10 are covered by the President's
speech, see p. 143, starting with "The Society has
agreed the outline of its course (Appendix B) . . . "
(11) It is to be understood that in the making of the
further regulations spelling out in detail the scheme of
training, the future regulations will be substantially in
accordance with the scheme now outlined in this expla-
natory note and at Appendix B.
Conditions of admission to Society's Law School under
new arrangements
(12) (i) Applicant with Law Degree.
Subject to passing the statutory First Irish Exam-
ination and obtaining a master, the applicant will be
allowed to commence the three year apprenticeship and
will be given an exemption from the Society's First Law
Examination (new form).
(ii) Applicant with other degree.
Subject to passing the statutory First Irish Exam
ination and obtaining a master the applicant will be
allowed to commence a three year apprenticeship-
Before being admitted to the Society's Law School, he
will be required to pass an examination at degree level
in Contract, Property, Tort, Constitutional Law and two
optional subjects. It is hoped in discussion with the
Universities, to arrange that such persons will be in
a
position to attend the appropriate University lectures
and sit the appropriate University examinations, which
would be recognised for the Society's purposes.
Ratio of Apprentices to Solicitors
(13) At present there are approximately 600 appr
en
"
tices in training and some 1,500 solicitors in practice-
By comparison Scotland with a population of 5,212,00°
and a comprehensive system of legal aid, has 3,50"
solicitors in practice. Notwithstanding the high appren*
tice/solicitor ratio, there is an unsatisfied demand f°
r
apprenticeship. The Society being conscious of the P
r
°k*
lem of obtaining masters, agreed on 7th February 19'
74
that in these special circumstances, it would be p
r
®*
pared to consider applications from solicitors generally
for second apprentices. Also, as an exceptional measure,
it agreed to allow solicitors of five to seven years stand*
ing to take apprentices subject to the Society's approve'
in each case.
Length of apprenticeship
(14) Criticism has been voiced over the length
oI
apprenticeship—three years for a person with a Univer-
sity degree. This is a statutory requirement provided
for under Section 26 of , the Solicitors Acts
1954-196°
and the Second Schedule to the Act. It cannot he
altered without amending legislation. It is a factor
which will be borne in mind in any future amendmen
1
of the legislation.
—Continued on next pag
e
Congress of French Notaries
Th e 71st Congress of the Notaries of France will be
held in the International Congress Hall, Porte Maillot,
Paris, from Sunday, 27, to Wednesday evening, 30
October 1974, inclusive. The subject matter of the Con-
gress will be " The Practice of Law in Europe and in the
Common Market". Eight Commissions will examine
different aspects of the problem. Instantaneous trans-
lation into five languages including English is assured.
A volume containing all the reports of the Commission
will be sent to each participant. Accommodation for
participants has been reserved by the committee in two
hotels of 1,000 rooms each, the Concorde Lafayette and
the Meridien, adjoining the meeting hall. Th e rates are
155 francs (£15) per day for a single room, including
continental breakfast, and 190 francs (£18) per day f°
r
a double room. The total extras include two lunches
Monday, 28, and Tuesday, 29, for 130 francs altogether
(£11.50). An official banquet in the Intercontinental
Hotel on Monday, 28, for 180 francs (£16), a foreign
participants dinner in the Palace of Versailles on TueS'
day, 29, for 250 francs (£22), and a gala evening °
n
Wednesday, 30, for 90 francs (£8.50). The registration
fee for a participant in the Congress is 450 fran
cS
(£40), and for each member of his family 200 fran°
s
(£18). A prospective participant should write befar
e
September 15 to Ma d ame Boulanger, Boite Postale
62520 Le Touquet, France.
182