The Gazette 1961 - 64

It is my very pleasant task to welcome each of you very sincerely to our ranks and to hope that if you have not already done so you will join our Society. There will be available to you here quite apart from this splendid library, which can be so useful to a young solicitor who starting out may not be able to purchase all the law books he would like, all our other facilities and above all the advice and help of your colleagues here, and of Mr. Plunkett who from his wide experience over the years can consult with and advise you in confidence if at any time you find yourself in difficulty—if you are a very young solicitor and he seems too formidable to approach, though I am quite sure he would be sympathetic, there is Mr. Cusack who now has behind him all the organisation and assistance of the Society. May I hope that your families and friends will also stand by you in these early days realising particularly of those of you who are younger, that it is an uphill road requiring patience and perseverance to reach its upper heights. I can speak of this from personal experience for as a qualified solicitor I started at £8 per month. I am glad to be able to tell you it has increased a little since then—and I worked with wonderful partners some of whom were 40 years older than myself and four of whom lived to be well over 80 years of age. To consult with them was like going to Senior Counsel, to learn from them was better than any text book, to have known them and enjoyed their friendship was a great privilege and will remain a lasting memory which I greatly treasure. May you go out into your new profession in confidence, keeping ever before you the highest standards and may God's blessing go with each of you. PRESENTATION OF PARCHMENTS The following solicitors received certificates : Mary Binchy (B.A.), Gortskagh, Charleville, Co. Cork; Michael B. Creed (B.C.L.), Masseytown, Macroom, Co. Cork; John V. P. Cresswell (B.A., LL.B.), Cullenstown, Kilternan, Co. Dublin ; Ailin A. Gibbons (B.C.L.), 16 Dollymount Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin; Rory M. Hogan (B.C.L.), Ladymount, Callan, Co. Kilkenny; Thomas J. Macken, 11 Henly Road, Churchtown, Co. Dublin ; Owen Mulholland, 6 Sandford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin; Make McHale (B.A.), n The Crescent, Galway. INTERNATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION NINTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE The above conference is to be held in Edinburgh from July i6th to July zoth, 1962. Members

PRESENTATION OF NEW CERTIFICATES

On November 23rd the President at a ceremony in the Society's library presented certificates of admission to the undermentioned solicitors. In his address to the newly admitted solicitors the President said : LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : Before presenting the Certificates of Admission to the Ladies and Gentlemen who, having passed our Examinations, are now entitled to join us in practice it is usual for the President to say a few words. It may be of interest to you to know that since 1956 the average number of Apprentices entering into indentures has been 36. The average number of admissions to the roll, 40, and the average number of Practising Certificates issued 1350. The number of these entering into Indentures this year at 42 is the highest it has been since 1957 when it was 45. The numbers actually being admitted this year at 27 is the lowest it has been since 1958, and as we estimate that between 30 and 35 solicitors cease to practice either through death or retirement there should, all things being equal, be a small overall reduction in our numbers. I have mentioned these figures because you should know that in the view of our Council the Profession is at present overcrowded and this we consider is a bad thing. We have not sought to restrict in any way the numbers entering the profession, and no one who has attained the standard required by our examiners has been deferred or delayed in any way in his progress towards qualification. We are anxious to maintain and even improve our standards and qualifications, and I will later this afternoon be speaking about this to our members, but I believe I am right in saying that this is not because we wish to limit the numbers, entering but rather to improve the quality and qualifications of those entering so that in our present highly complex and specialised situation our members may be fitted to meet and deal with every eventuality. It is interesting to note that the situation here is quite different to that existing in Northern Ireland, England, and Scotland where there is an acute shortage of solicitors and solicitors clerks. If a measure of reciprocity comes with the Common Market it might solve some of these problems. Having said all that I am bound to express the personal view that there is room in this country for good solicitors, and of course there is always room at the top.