The Gazette 1988

APRIL 1 988

GAZETTE

INAUGURATION OF IRISH LEGAL HISTORY SOCIETY The Irish Legal History Society was inaugurated in the joint presence of the Chief Justice of Ireland, Mr. Justice Finlay, and of the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Lord Lowry, at a reception held in Trinity College, Dublin, on Friday 12th February 1988. Included in the attendance were Mr. Jus t i ce Henchy and Mr. Justice McCarthy of the Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Barrington and Mr. Justice Blayney of the High Court, Mr. Nial Fennelly, S.C., representing the Chairman of the General Council of the Bar of Ireland, Mr. Michael Lavery, Q.C., Chairman of the Executive Council of the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland, Mr. Michael O'Mahony, representing the President of the Incorporated Law Soc i e ty of Ireland, other barristers and members of the solicitors' pro- fession, members of the Law Reform Commission and many academic lawyers, historians from the university history departments and archivists, north and south. The Chancellor of Dublin University, Dr. F. J. C. O'Reilly, was also present as was the Provost of Trinity, Dr. W. A. Watts. In their addresses, the Chief Justice and the Lord Chief Justice welcomed the initiative that had led to the establishment of the new Society and wished it well in the years ahead.

solicitors in England at least over the next six years. They are finding that the number that graduate each year are not sufficient to meet the demands and they are in particular difficulty in relation to the operation of their legal aid service. I certainly do not want to feel that our Law Society is educating its graduates for export, but I do strongly feel that given the situation which at present exists of an over supply of solicitors in our country, we must make sure that our graduates are as well educated and trained to take their place in the legal world outside of our country as we can and ce r t a i n ly the issue of reciprocity with England must loom large on our Agenda in the next year. It is also abundantly clear that the continental lawyer is paid at a consistently higher level than his Irish counterpart. For example, a solicitor doing a legal aid case in Austria is paid at an average rate of £340 per case and the Austrian Law Society feels, and points out to the Government, that at that level of fee, he is making a significant contribution to the Social Welfare aspect of the case. What I have described in this article is all part of the changing scene in the legal profession about which I wrote at the start of my year. I believe that this change is going to continue and possibly at an even faster rate than I had originally envisaged. What is abundantly clear to me is that whatever change comes in, there will always be a need for a good lawyer with access to specialist knowledge and at a charge which is commensurate wi th the market place. Let us strive with all our might to attain this goal. THOMAS D. SHAW President

The Chairman of the Society, Mr. Justice Costello, explained the origins of the Society and the • Secretary, Professor W. N. Osborough, of the Trinity Law School who also spoke, announced that the Society expected to commence its series of scholarly volumes on Irish legal history topics with the publication in 1989 of a collection of essays on the history of the Irish legal profession. The Chairman concluded the proceedings by expressing the thanks of the Society to the Provost for his kindness in acting as host on the occasion of what was a memorable and unprecedented event in the Irish legal calendar. The subscription to the Society costs £30 (or £28 Sterling). Student subscribers pay £15 (or £14 Sterling). Subscriptions may be sent to The Secretary, Professor W. N. Osborough, School of Law, Trinity College, Dublin 2, from whom further particulars may be obtained. The executive committee, which, pending the adoption of a cons- t i t u t i on for the new Society (expected later this year), currently administers the affairs of the Society consists of: Mr. Justice Costello (Chairman); Professor W. N. Osborough (Secretary); Daire Hogan, Esq., Solicitor (Treasurer); Dr. Art Cosgrove, University College Dublin; Dr. David Craig, Public Record Office of Ireland; and Professor D. S. Greer, Queen's University Belfast.

Dr Keith W Snape FORENSIC HANDWRITING EXPERT Leaflet available Highfield, Billinge End Road, Pleasington, Blackburn, Lanes,

Pictured at the inaugural reception for the Irish Legal History Society held in Trinity College on 12 February 1988 are (from L. to R.): Dr. W. A. Watts, the Provost of Trinity; Mr. Justice Finlay, Chief Justice; Lord Lowry, Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland; and professor W. N. Osborough, secretary of the Society.

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