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GAZETTE
OCTOBER 1977
8.14
The Committee continues to be frustrated in its efforts to have some sane and logical approach
evolved to deal with increases which the profession are entitled to from time to time and the implementation
thereof. The members will understand the reasons for the frustration when it is considered that it was in the
summer of 19 7 5 the Prices Commission referred to Professor Dennis Lees the question of solicitors income and
remuneration and expenses. His considered and final report was submitted in October of 1976, and despite the
rationale of his enquiries, his recommendations were not in any way fully implemented by the Prices
Commission, and even their sanctioned recommended increases have not to this date been implemented, and
these recommendations are based on expenses up to the year 1975, as a result of a survey then carried out. The
fact that it is necessary for the profession to live in and combat the day to day running of their practices in 1977
and continuing increases in overheads without corresponding allowances in fee increases, makes the reason for
the Committee's frustrations more obvious. Clearly a new and updated procedure for annual increases will have
to be evolved most urgently.
8.15
Finally, I am grateful for the assistance of each and every member of the Committee, particularly the
Deputy Chairman, Mr. David Pigot, and the Committee's secretary, Miss Margaret T. C. Casey, Solicitor.
EDUCATION
COMMITTEE
Maurice R. Curran
Chairman
Adrian P. Bourke
John F. Buckley
Francis D. Daly
Rory O'Donnell
Michael V. O'Mahony
9.1
During the year the main problem confronting the Committee and causing considerable anxiety was
the number of actual and potential apprentices. The numbers issue has also raised delicate problems with the
Universities
9.2 There are approximately 1,800 practising Solicitors on the roll of whan one-third are not more than five
years qualified. In the year 1976 alone we admitted to practise 144 Solicitors leaving us with about 800
apprentices in the pipeline. This figure does not include a further 100-200 persons who have completed their
apprenticeship but who still have to pass one or more of the Society's examinations. In 1977, 206 apprentices
passed the liiird Law examination and will be admitted to practise in the near future. The statistics for
admission to apprenticeship over the last five years are as follows:
Year ending 30th September
1973
182
1974
275
1975
532
1976
68
1977
98
Total
1,25
The following is a summary of the law examination results over the last two years. Thefigure on the left
hand side represents the number of apprentices who passed the examination outright. The figure on the right
hand side indicates the total number sitting for the examination.
FIRST LAW
SECOND LAW
THIRD LAW
Spring, 1976
60/142
86/165
68/106
Autumn, 1976
71/279
100/202
45/ 99
Spring. 1977
73/189
136/228
107/170
Autumn, 1977
96/241
102/223
98/165
f s
Maurice R. Curran,
Chairman
9.3
The Universities are producing over 240 Law Graduates each year and experience shows that
approximately 75% of these graduates will seek to become Solicitors.
9.4
We have not researched the figures, but if one assumes that about 40 Solicitors cease to
practise in any given year and that outside interests, such as industry or employment abroad will
assimilate another 60, (which may be optimistic), it would seem that the maximum number per year that
should be permitted to qualify would be 120. However the Committee take the view that it would be a
discriminatory and restrictive practice to limit the number allowed to qualify to what it was anticipated could
be absorbed. At the same time, the Education Committee and the Education Advisory Committee have taken
the view that the physical facilities available in Blackhall Place can handle at any one time not more than 75
Students. Accordingly the current thinking is that there will be two Courses run in each year, each of 23 weeks,
and each handling 75 students giving a total of 150 students in one year, almost all of whom will be expected
to qualify under the new system. 150 new Solicitors each year would appear to be too many unless there is
some expansion either in the areas of work handled by Solicitors or in the volume in those areas. If a scheme
of civil legal aid was introduced, obviously there could be a considerable expansion of volume in certain areas
currently sparsely covered. As to new areas, it is not so clear in what directions the profession may develop in
years to come.
9.5
Because of the points system operated by the Universities, many individuals who wish to become
Solicitors are failing to gain admission to the University Law Schools. The Education Committee do not
accept that the present point system is a suitable way of selecting students who have the potential to be