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(v)
BILLS OF COSTS:
Sometimes persons write to the Society stating that they have been
overcharged by their Solicitors. The standard form of reply is that the Society has no juris-
diction in matters relating to Solicitor's Costs which are controlled as a matter of law. However,
the Society may be prepared to express views on the correctness of a Bill of Costs on receiving
same from the Client and on hearing from the Solicitor concerned.
(vi)
THEORETICAL COMPLAINTS:
Any complaint which does not state the name and
address of the Solicitor concerned is not answered directly. The Society writes to the com-
plainant informing him that in order to properly consider the matter it is necessary to have
the name and address of the Solicitor concerned.
3.7 Up to recently every complaint to a Solicitor warranted three reminders to the Solicitor
concerned on the part of the Society. Now the Society will send one reminder only where the
matter is a serious matter or the Solicitor concerned has shown no inclination in the past to
respond to the Society's correspondent.
3.8
THE INSTITUTION OF DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST A SOLICITOR:
The Registrar's Committee are responsible for instituting Disciplinary proceedings against
Solicitors. The two most likely areas (apart from a Complaint) where a standard procedure
would be desirable is in relation to:
(a) Failure to submit an Accountant's Certificate;
(b) Failure to take out a Practising Certificate.
3.9 The Registrar's Committee feels that its role is one of help to the erring Solicitor even at
a time when he has been given every chance to rectify the complaint against him. The work
of the Committee is both arduous and time-consuming.
COMPENSATION
FUND
COMMITTEE
4.1 The profession are obliged by statute to provide full indemnity to members of the public
who may suffer loss as a result of defalcation by any practising solicitor. The contribution for
the year under review was fixed at £20.
Gerard M. Doyle,
Chairman
Walter Beatty
John F. Buckley
Anthony E. Collins
Laurence Cullen
James R. C. Green
Brendan A. McGrath
Patrick F. O'Donnell
David R. Pigot
Mrs. Moya Quinlan
4.2 Payments from the fund in respect of ascertained losses and other expenses during the
year amounted to £15,354.
4.3 The book value of the Fund as at 30th April 1974 was £375,201.
4.4 The report of the Compensation Fund for the year ended 30th April 1974 is considered
satisfactory.
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