191 / 424
GAZETTE
P R
A
C
T
I
C E
M A N A G E M E N T
MAY/JUNE 1995
An o t h er month has passed and the
Practice Ma n a g eme nt C omm i t t ee still
continues its work unabated and with
undiluted enthusiasm in its wish and
in its efforts to instill into the
Profession the notion that good
ma n a g eme nt t e c hn i qu es are just as
important to a practice as e x c e l l e n ce
in the L aw.
We hope we are getting the message
across that in running a solicitors'
practice one must be conscious o f both
the professional and business aspect. It
is not just enough to do the j o b well but
the client must appreciate that this was
in fact the case. Awareness o f good
marketing principles is as important as
client care which includes, in particular,
the speedy handling of telephone calls
and complaints. Financial arrangements
must be crystal clear and payment for
services should be obtained with the
minimum of delay. Perhaps this
greater awareness is in some small
measure due to the efforts o f this
Committee.
I have been involved in Practice
Ma n a g eme nt for three years now
(probably doing less than mo s t) and
the hard work o f the L aw S o c i e ty
S t a ff on the C omm i t t ee never c e a s es
to ama ze me. T h ey s e em to be doing
ten things at o n ce and on an equal
numb er o f C omm i t t e es yet our work is
a l wa ys done without a murmur. W c
have also been blessed with good
Ch a i rmen o f different styles but
equally good humoured and e f f e c t i v e.
I have also noticed that while the
official agenda varies only gradually
from month to month as o b j e c t i v es are
a c h i e v ed the real melting pot for new
ideas can be over a sandwich with
Justin McKenna
pouring the tea
and
Brian O'Reilly
discussing his
latest video.
An yway back to reality for a mome nt
and what has been done and what you
are likely to hear about soon.
A. T h e V i d eo Library was launched
with pomp and c e r emo ny on the
21 April 1 9 9 5. (see page 1 4 4)
B . Another Q Mark S em i n ar was held
on 31 Ma y.
C. S o l i c i t or Link still appears to be
working well so if you wish to
buy. sell or merge your practice
you should contact
Cillian
MacDomhnaill
in the L aw S o c i e ty
and he will give you all the
n e c e s s a ry details.
D. Y o u now have your fourth
Practice Ma n a g eme nt Note written
by Justin M c K e n na so please read
it and keep it in its binder. T h e re
are plans to have c omp l e te sets o f
these notes available at the end o f
each year just in c a se you have
, missed one.
E. We are still working on the O f f i ce
Manual but this is hard work and
will take plenty o f time.
F. Y o u will also be hearing about
L aw L i nk. T h is is a c ompu t e r i s ed
On L i ne S e r v i ce to the Land
Registry and the C omp a n i es
O f f i c e. On L i ne Legal Diary is also
available with E Mail facilities. A
Registry o f De e ds Link should be
available in the Autumn. T h e se
services will be useful to e v e r y o ne
with particular r e f e r e n ce to our
rural c o l l e a g u e s. An yway more
about his service can be obtained
from
Mr Jerry Godsell.
Law Link.
T e l: 6 61 1 9 5 4.
G . Y ou will also be hearing more
about the Solicitors ( Ame n dme n t)
Act 1994 with particular reference
to Section 6 8. Th e re is enough
material here, from a Practice
Ma n a g eme nt point of view, to keep
us going for twenty years. T he
general consensus both inside and
outside the Comm i t t ee seems to be
that the proposed Contract/
Agreement furnished by the
Society to assist with Litigation
while helpful, could be revised.
Even though the Act is now L aw
for several months many
Co l l e a gu es are still finding
difficulty in c omi ng to grips with
how to charge and how to make
their charges clear to clients. Th is
is an area where our Comm i t t ee has
a vital role for how can any
business run effectively if the
manner and method of charging is
unclear particularly where
Disciplinary Action can be taken if
charges are "grossly unreasonable".
John Glynn
Selling Your Practice?
Why not use the services of the
Law Society's Solicitor Link?
Information
from:
Mr. Cillian MacDomhnaill
Finance & Administration Executive
The Law Society
Blackhall Place
Dublin 7.
Ph: (01) 671 0711
THE SICK AND
INDIGENT
ROOMKEEPERS'
SOCIETY "DUBLIN'S
OLDEST CHARITY"
Since 1790 we have been
helping Dublin's poor.
Please help us to
continue with a
bequest or donation.
34, Lr. Lesson St.
Dublin 2.
Telephone: 6769191
167