The Gazette 1995

GAZETTE

MAY/JUNE 1995

N E W S

Sub-committee on Career Development

The Society continues to be concerned about employment prospects for the increasing numbers of newly-qualified : solicitors and in this context, a sub- committee of the Education Advisory Committee has been established under the chairmanship of John Costello. The group comprises two other j Education Advisory Committee members, Dudley Potter and Fionnuala Breen-Walsh as well as | Philippa Howley representing the Younger Members and Seamus Cassidy, Apprentice; executive staff I members are Raphael King, Course Co-ordinator and Geraldine Hynes, Careers Advisor. In the three meetings which have taken place to date, the focus has been firmly I fixed on practical initiatives to alleviate the problems. The message is being conveyed to second and third j level students and their career guidance counsellors that the profession is substantially over-subscribed and that those students who are committed to pursuing legal studies should ensure A very successful twenty year reunion was held at the Law Society on 25 February 1995. Up to seventy solicitors and barristers attended the reunion all of whom commenced their j legal career in 1973 and attended lectures at UCD, Belfield for the following four years. A special word of | thanks to Paul Romeril, Consulting Engineer who sponsored the string quartet and to all the Law Society staff. We all enjoyed a meal provided by Peter Redmond and his staff and the bar | staff quenched our thirsts. Thanks also to Erin Barry for organising the booking. A most enjoyable evening was had by all.

that they concentrate from an early stage on expanding their options rather than restricting them. This can be done by choosing degree courses that provide exposure to non-legal disciplines, e.g. business subjects or languages, as well as law. In addition, students and apprentices are being encouraged to engage in part-time courses which might enhance their employment prospects. A list of suggested courses is being compiled and will be available from the careers office in the Society from the end of May. The possibility of running certain courses in the Law School is also under discussion and it is envisaged that a management module which would be of wider application than the present Practice Management input will be incorporated into the Advanced Course in the near future. The other main thrust of the sub- committee is in the area of marketing of solicitors for employment in the broad commercial sector. This is being done in the first instance by

meeting directly with members of the business community to discuss the development of the role of solicitors in non-traditional areas of employment and to reinforce the message that having a solicitor on its staff or board would be a significant advantage to any organisation. Links have already been established with the Personnel and Development and the Chambers of Commerce as well as individual companies and a number of executive recruitment consultants. The committee will continue to meet each month and will be glad to receive suggestions or comments from interested parties; correspondence may be directed to the careers adviser or to any of the committee members c/o the Law School. Geraldine Hynes was appointed Careers Advisor in February 1995. She was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 1993. Irish Business and Employers Confederation, the Institute of

A Successful Reunion at the Law Society

Meeting

old friends

at the Law Society,

(left to right):

Helen Bowe O'Brien,

Peter

Donal O 'Kelly, Solicitor

McDonnell,

Donal O'Kelly and Declan

Foley.

175