The Gazette 1961 - 64

university degree and in that connection we do not limit his or her choice of subject. Secondly : Having obtained that degree and passed our examinations in the Theory of Law every in tending solicitor should serve two years at least as a full time apprentice of a practising solicitor durnig which period he should be entitled to earn a, salary. Thirdly : We recommend a common system of legal education and examination for our profession and the Bar ; greater ease of transfer from one pro fession to the other, and reciprocity with other countries which entry into the Common Market will make more necessary than ever. Fourthly : Our students and indeed the members of our profession must have adequate text books. You will have seen from our report that the In corporated Council of Law Reporting are now arranging to have some books published and we can only hope that the Government will realise that it has some financial responsibility in this matter. Much as we welcome the explanatory memoranda how being published by the Stationery Office with each new Act these are no adequate substitute for text books. With new statutes, which are effecting important changes of the Law and which in many cases are indeed long overdue, appearing with ever increasing frequency, our profession, the Bar and indeed the judges and justices are faced with the problem of keeping ourselves up to date with these changes. While within our own resources we will do all we can to assist members by the provision of summaries of the more important acts, these again cannot take the place of text books which are quite beyond our resources and must remain the responsibility of the Council of Law Reporting assisted by adequate government grants. Before I leave the subject of education may I express my admiration for and appreciation of the work done by all our lecturers and examiners during another year. Legal Aid The Minister for Justice recently announced the Governments intention to introduce a legal aid scheme in criminal cases and permission has been obtained to introduce a Bill. We understand that the Bill has actually been drafted providing for legal aid in certain criminal matters but up to the present we have not seen it nor have we been consulted in regard to its pro visions or implications. I would like you to know that we have asked the Minister for Justice as a matter of urgency to meet us and discuss with us the provisions of the proposed 55

his advice has been invaluable to his colleagues and in accepting his resignation, which they do with deep regret, they would like to convey to him their very sincere good wishes in his new calling." Mr. Cox has donated to the Society the Chair of John Mitchell Attorney, and author of the "Jail Journal" and a bust of Chief Justice Malone by Nollens. The Council has accepted these gifts with pleasure and conveyed to Mr. Cox its appreciation of his kindly parting gesture. May I say very sincerely to Mr. Cox on your behalf and on my own "In the days that lie ahead of you, be they long or short, may all your ways be ways of pleasantness and all your Paths be Peace ". You will each have had a copy of our Annual Report and Statement of Accounts which I hope you will iake time to read carefully if you have not already done so. You will I am sure realise that it would be quite impossible for me to deal in any detail with the report in the time at my disposal and accordingly I propose this afternoon to confine my remarks to those matters which I consider should be brought to your particular attention. Education This is a subject which quite rightly has occupied and will continue to occupy a good deal of the Councils time and attention and we have set out at appendix B on Page 38 of our Report our mem orandum to the Commission of Higher Education. We have not yet been asked to appear before the commission but are ready and willing to do so. There are one or two points in our memorandum which I would like to stress. For a long time we have felt that our system of education is far too rigid and being established by statutory enactments it cannot easily be changed to meet changing times. We take the view that the time has now come when power should be vested in our Society to prescribe our own system of education and training by statutory regulations made if necessary with the approval of the President of the High Court. While under our present system I am satisfied that our students are getting adequate instruction and examination in the theory of law I am far from happy that when first qualified they have any practical knowledge at all. Technically they are expected to serve an apprenticeship of 3, 4 or 5 years a,s the case may be in their masters' office but in practice academic study and lectures prevent them from so doing. Amongst other things we have made the following recommendations : Firstly: Every intending solicitor should have a