The Gazette 1975

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Summer Meeting, Westport, May, 1975 (From left) Robert F. Laurie, Secretary, Scottish Law Society, J. D. Wheelans, M.B.E.. President, Scottish Law Society, W. A. Osborne, President, Incorporated Law Society of Ire- land, Leslie H. Boyd, President, Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland, Sydney Lomas, Secretary, Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland.

is from three to four per cent of our members, becomes inflated by publicity and consequently reflects on the entire profession. We accept without hesitation con- structive criticism, but we are entitled to object to criticism which tends to be destructive and which lowers the standard of our integrity in the public eye. Without hesitation I say that 9 6% to 97% of our members are men and women of the highest integrity, who are providing an excellent service to the public of which they may be proud. A solicitor's relationship with his own client is a general rule, as fine a relat- ionship as one can find anywhere. Some of the discon- tent which exists and results in complaints, is due to the lack of understanding by the public of the diffi- 145

l s now being reached where, as a profession of lawyers, We may be obliged to cry halt. It would be a tragic situation if we reached a stage where the people of Ireland were unable to consult with their professional advisers, because they feared than an all power- ful State would demand that the confidence so divulged be disclosed to it and to the clients detriment. Hope- fully that situation will not be reached. The confidences a client must be rigidly preserved in full. That is our clear duty. We are also very concerned about the criticism which bas been levelled at the profession in recent months. Unfortunately the justifiable annoyance of clients, caused by inefficiencies and the delays of what in effect