217 / 264
GAZETTE
DECEMBER 1978
LAW SOCIETY SPOKESMAN CRITICIZES POINTS
SYSTEM OF ENTRY TO UNIVERSITIES AND
OUT/DATED TEACHING METHODS IN LAW
FACULTY
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Law Society of
University College Dublin John F. Buckley, the
Chairman of the Education Committee of the
Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, criticized the points
entry system which was being used exclusively by
Universities to determine the quality of entrants to various
faculties including the Law Faculty. He asked why, when
aptitude testing, in the form of the Law School Admission
Test, had been successfully used by all American
University Law Schools of standing for upwards of 30
years, our Universities continued to adhere to a purely
mechanical system of assessing results in examinations
taken by students in subjects which they would not be
studying at the University. He said that there was a
growing belief that not only were students of quality being
excluded from entry to professional faculties simply
because they did not reach the high points entry level
required but the high failure rate in first year examinations
in the Law Faculty suggested that many of those who had
achieved high points levels had no aptitude for the study
of Law. He called upon the Universities to review their
methods of testing for entry.
He regretted, as a graduate of the College that he had
to draw attention to the fact that Law Graduates of the
College had a substantially higher failure rate in the Law
Society's Professional Examinations than the graduates
of the other two Law Schools which granted primary
degrees. While undoubtedly the unsatisfactory
staff/student ratio was a contributing factor he could not
help but wonder whether reliance on old fashioned
lectures coupled with the half hearted and clearly
EUROPEAN LEGAL
FELLOWSHIPS 1979
unsuccessful tutorial system was not a contributory
cause. He urged the Faculty to consider the introduction
of modern teaching methods including the use of audio
visual equipment.
He indicated that he could not see any grounds for
conflict between the interests of the Universities and that
of the Professions in so far as the education of students in
the Law Faculty was concerned. All the profession
required of the University was that its graduates should
have achieved a basic level of competence in the main
areas of the Law. If this was achieved he had no doubt
that such graduates would be quite capable of coping with
the many new demands which were made on the
practising Lawyer.
He also expressed disappointment at the response
which the Law Society's scheme for publishing legal text
books had received from the Law Faculties of the Irish
Universities.
7th December, 1978.
FULL TIME
COMPANY
SOLICITOR
We have been asked by our Clients — a major Irish
public company — to invite applications from
qualified Solicitors to fill the above position in its
subsidiaries. The successful applicant will probably
be:
Aged 25/35.
Possess a wide and varied post-qualifying
experience.
Be ambitious to make a career in commercial life.
Be able to work with existing Management
personnel.
The duties involved will include responsibility for
the legal aspects of a wide variety of commercial
transactions including Debt Collecting, Letting
Agreements, Company Secretarial Work, etc.
Replies should give full details of educational
attainments and career to date. Present or
previous employers will not be contacted without
your permission.
Salary and conditions of employment by negotiation
at interview.
Apply to:
A. & L. GOODBODY,
Solicitors,
31 Fitzwilliam Square,
Dublin 2.
Ref: MGD/SOLR.
The Council of Europe draws the attention of law
graduates in its member States to the Fellowship
Programme for European legal studies and research.
Grants under this programme (average duration:
6 months) can be awarded as a contribution toward
the cost of study projects relating to problems of
comparative or international law of European
countries, in any branch of law except EEC Law.
Applications must be submitted before 15 March
1979 through the intermediary of national liaison
offices.
For further information contact:
The Directorate of Legal Affairs,
Division II,
Council of Europe,
67006 STRASBOURG Cedex,
France.
or
The Secretary,
Department of Justice,
Room 308.
72/76 St. Stephen's Green,
Dublin 2.
217