The Gazette 1977

GAZETTE

OCTOBER 1977

8.14 The Committee continues to be frustrated in its efforts to have some sane and logical approach evolved to deal with increases which the profession are entitled to from time to time and the implementation thereof. The members will understand the reasons for the frustration when it is considered that it was in the summer of 19 7 5 the Prices Commission referred to Professor Dennis Lees the question of solicitors income and remuneration and expenses. His considered and final report was submitted in October of 1976, and despite the rationale of his enquiries, his recommendations were not in any way fully implemented by the Prices Commission, and even their sanctioned recommended increases have not to this date been implemented, and these recommendations are based on expenses up to the year 1975, as a result of a survey then carried out. The fact that it is necessary for the profession to live in and combat the day to day running of their practices in 1977 and continuing increases in overheads without corresponding allowances in fee increases, makes the reason for the Committee's frustrations more obvious. Clearly a new and updated procedure for annual increases will have to be evolved most urgently. Finally, I am grateful for the assistance of each and every member of the Committee, particularly the Deputy Chairman, Mr. David Pigot, and the Committee's secretary, Miss Margaret T. C. Casey, Solicitor. 8.15

9.1 During the year the main problem confronting the Committee and causing considerable anxiety was the number of actual and potential apprentices. The numbers issue has also raised delicate problems with the Universities 9.2 There are approximately 1,800 practising Solicitors on the roll of whan one-third are not more than five years qualified. In the year 1976 alone we admitted to practise 144 Solicitors leaving us with about 800 apprentices in the pipeline. This figure does not include a further 100-200 persons who have completed their apprenticeship but who still have to pass one or more of the Society's examinations. In 1977, 206 apprentices passed the liiird Law examination and will be admitted to practise in the near future. The statistics for admission to apprenticeship over the last five years are as follows: Year ending 30th September 1973 182 1974 275 1975 532 1976 68 1977 98 Total 1,25 The following is a summary of the law examination results over the last two years. Thefigure on the left hand side represents the number of apprentices who passed the examination outright. The figure on the right hand side indicates the total number sitting for the examination. 9.3 The Universities are producing over 240 Law Graduates each year and experience shows that approximately 75% of these graduates will seek to become Solicitors. 9.4 We have not researched the figures, but if one assumes that about 40 Solicitors cease to practise in any given year and that outside interests, such as industry or employment abroad will assimilate another 60, (which may be optimistic), it would seem that the maximum number per year that should be permitted to qualify would be 120. However the Committee take the view that it would be a discriminatory and restrictive practice to limit the number allowed to qualify to what it was anticipated could be absorbed. At the same time, the Education Committee and the Education Advisory Committee have taken the view that the physical facilities available in Blackhall Place can handle at any one time not more than 75 Students. Accordingly the current thinking is that there will be two Courses run in each year, each of 23 weeks, and each handling 75 students giving a total of 150 students in one year, almost all of whom will be expected to qualify under the new system. 150 new Solicitors each year would appear to be too many unless there is some expansion either in the areas of work handled by Solicitors or in the volume in those areas. If a scheme of civil legal aid was introduced, obviously there could be a considerable expansion of volume in certain areas currently sparsely covered. As to new areas, it is not so clear in what directions the profession may develop in years to come. 9.5 Because of the points system operated by the Universities, many individuals who wish to become Solicitors are failing to gain admission to the University Law Schools. The Education Committee do not accept that the present point system is a suitable way of selecting students who have the potential to be FIRST LAW SECOND LAW THIRD LAW Spring, 1976 60/142 86/165 68/106 Autumn, 1976 71/279 100/202 45/ 99 Spring. 1977 73/189 136/228 107/170 Autumn, 1977 96/241 102/223 98/165

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Maurice R. Curran Chairman

Adrian P. Bourke John F. Buckley Francis D. Daly Rory O'Donnell Michael V. O'Mahony

f s Maurice R. Curran, Chairman