The Gazette 1974

hold a degree. This requirement is to be specified in the Regulation which with the approval of the Council will be made at the Council meeting next Thursday. T h e particular regulation is being made at this stage so that second level educational institutions can have as long a notice as is feasible of the change. (A mini- mum of one year has been suggested.) Nearer the time of the change, there will be need for further and more detailed regulations setting o u t : (a) the transitional examination arrangements for those already admitted to apprenticeship, and (h) the examination and other arrangements under the new situation. It is visualised that these regulations will not be made until early in 1975 and that the intervening time will be used by the Society to clarify all outstanding matters as to course details, etc. with the Universities. Details of Society's Course The Society has agreed the outline of its course with the Universities and has established a joint committee with them to examine and agree the detailed syllabus of the course as outlined. This Committee is working harmoniously. This will take some time since discussion with the existing teachers and examiners will be neces- sary to establish the desired syllabus for each of the subjects in the proposed course. It will be necessary also to establish how much of each course will be given by way of lecture and how much by way of dis- cussion group. A problem here will be the recruitment and training of interested teachers and tutors in suitable numbers. On that account, it is visualised that the introduction of an improved syllabus in each subject will be a gradual procedure. As with the universities, the syllabus will be revised from time to time accord- ing as teaching expertise is developed. It is stressed that in each of the subjects listed, the emphasis in the Societys' course will be on the practical aspects as they apply in the everyday work of a solicitor's office. It is visualised that in the First Year as an apprentice lectures and group discussion will take place from Mon- day to Friday from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. and that in addition tutorials will be held for 2 hours per day. The arrangements for the second study period will not be as intensive, since to some extent the apprentice will be specialising in subjects of his own choice. At the end of the first year of study the apprentice will be required to sit a 2nd Law and Book-keeping examination (new form). He will then go to his master's office freed from lectures and examinations and for the best part of two years should learn the practice of his profession. About three months after the end of the second period of study the apprentice will be required to sit a final examination. It is intended that this particular examination will be broad rather than detailed in its approach. Candidates will be specialising in subjects of their own choice. Admission to Law School Und er the new arrangements for admission to the Societys' Law School an applicant with a Law Degree will be allowed to commence subject to passing the statutory First Irish Examination and obtaining a master.

Contract and To rt for one full year before sitting for t h e First Law Examination and University lectures in Equity for one full year before sitting for the Second La w Examination. In practice, the present arrangements allow a student to attend the Society's lectures and the de Sree course at one and the same time. This gives rise to difficulties in the scheduling of lectures which are ^ 0r npounded by the fact that in Dublin the University ^ u r e s are held in either T.C.D. or University College, fflfield, and the Society's lectures are held in University °Uege, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin. There is also the Problem of providing properly for graduates of U.C.C. fadU.C.C. At the moment there are upwards of 650 apprentices ° n the register of the Society. Slightly over 100 qualify solicitors each year and the number attending lec- fares varies between 100/150. Due to the limitations fa lecture space, the problem the universities have of akl ng an unlimited number of non-degree students and N e difficulty of securing apprenticeship, it would JPPear as if from 100 to 120 is the practical upper limit Vear. number of students that can be handled in any one that" 06 1 9 6 1 il h a s b e e n t h e s t a t e d P o l i c y o f t h e S o c i e t y H) The present division of functions between the Universities and the professional bodies should be continued, namely the Universities should provide lectures on the theoretical aspects of law while training in the practical application of these sub- jects should be given by lecturers provided by the professional bodies. ^ A university degree should be required before enter- *ng into indentures of apprenticeship. ,, J n Britain the Report of the Committee on Legal ^ c a t i o n ( ORMROD RE PORT) published in March ^ 71 recommended the intending solicitors should fuh C a L a w D e S r e e obtained as a result of a three-year f "."time academic course before commencing pro- of ssi onal studies. The Committee divided on the issue whether the universities or the profession should st Ssarn e responsibility for the year of professional s i h T ' P r ° I e s s i o n there favours assuming respon- c j 'fay for the professional stage of training but appre- a t e s that the cost of training may be too great for the l e ofe "sion to carry. In Northern Ireland where the P u k r a b o n ' s v e r y similar to that obtaining in the Re- f 0 " c > a degree has been specified as the requirement sin a PP r e n t i c e s h ip (except in the case of the law clerk) nee 1949 For the future it is proposed that the basic 0 | 0f essional training should be provided in an Institute lj .Law working in association with the Queen's Ce ni versity, Belfast. Insofar as the Republic is con- tffafa* the view of our Society is that the professional ,n »ng should be provided by the Society. e iv Education Regulations from October 1975 f o l l o w i n g consultation with the Universities, the t e n > P ro poses that as from 1 October 1975 all in- soii a P P r e n t i c e s other than a bona fide clerk to a citor with seven years service, will be required to Ed National policy of Society