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will be placed in a position of embarrassment with
the insurance company and their English agents,
through whom the policy was taken out if they are
obliged to hand over the assets with a resulting
claim against the insurance company. They asked
for advice as to whether they would be at liberty to
notify the insurance company through their agents
so that the latter might look after their own interests.
The Council on a, report from a committee stated
that members are entitled to notify the insurance
company through their agents that the client is about
to terminate their retainer in the matter and to take
over the assets.
Purchase of practice of County Registrar
A member purchased the practice of CD a solicitor
who was appointed County Registrar and enquired
whether he will be entitled to adopt the firm name
of CD & Co., with his own name underneath. The
Council stated that there was no objection to the
use of such a firm name.
Costs drawing service
The Council directed
the publication of an
advertisement
inviting
enquiries
from
suitable
persons for a costs drawing scheme under the
auspices of the Society. The advertisement appears
in this issue at page 90.
Compulsory acquisition of property. Costs
of negotiations and arbitration as to price
It was decided
that the Dublin Corporation
and the arbitrator under the Acquisition of Lands
(Assessment) Act, 1919 should be asked to receive
a deputation on the subject of the costs paid by the
Corporation in respect of negotiations where the
price is settled without recourse to arbitration and
also the practice of fixing the costs of arbitration
without taxation.
Road Traffic Acts.
Costs of defending
prosecution
A member wrote stating that local insurance
agents representing brokers had refused to pay the
minimum
fees
recommended
in
the
Society's
GAZETTE, April, 1959 and stated that their principals
in company with other insurers will not pay more
than a maximum fee of £3
$s.
The Council decided
to take the matter up with the brokers.
Organization and method
The Council considered a report from the Policy
Committee on
the subject of modernising
the
procedure in various Government and other offices
with a view to facilitating solicitors and their clients.
A circular had been sent to all the Bar associations
and on the basis of the replies received from a
number of them an interim report had been prepared
for submission to the Departments of Justice and
Finance, the Revenue Commissioners and the Rules
Committee of the Courts of Justice. If the procedure
in departments with which solicitors have to deal
can be simplified it may be possible to speed up
work and reduce operating expenses. The Committee
are continuing their work and will present a further
report.
Week-end meeting of the Society
It was decided that the next weekend meeting of
the Society should be held in Galway in May or
June 1961 subject to making the necessary local
arrangements.
APPOINTMENT OF LECTURERS AND
SPECIAL EXAMINERS
Mr. Joseph P. O'Connell, LL.B., solicitor, Dublin
has been appointed as lecturer and special examiner
on the law of wills and probate and executorship
law and practice.
Mr. Richard M. Neville, B.L., has been appointed
as lecturer on the procedure and practice of the
Courts of Justice and special examiner in that
subject and on criminal law and evidence.
OFFICE FACILITIES FOR SOLICITORS
The Council are considering a project for a general
service under the auspices of the Society to provide
greater
facilities
for
the conduct of solicitors'
offices.
The principal need at the moment is the
establishment of a costs drawing service. A vacancy
may shortly arise in connection with the scheme.
Applications
from
suitable
persons
(including
solicitors) should be sent to the Secretary of the
Society, Solicitors' Buildings, Four Courts, Dublin.
Canvassing is prohibited.
SOLICITORS' OPERATING EXPENSES
A special committee of the Council has been set
up to investigate ways and means of reducing
solicitors' office expenses.
The committee have
wide terms of reference and are authorised to
examine and report upon any proposal or suggestion
which would enable solicitors to operate their offices
more economically. The cost of running an office
has risen steeply in the past twenty years and the
matter is receiving serious attention by the Council
in the interests of the profession and its clients. In
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