The Gazette 1946-49

apprentice's lack of knowledge of the theory of conveyancing and its application in practice, and the difficulty of imparting instruction in this matter in the busy atmosphere of an office. It is hoped that the 18 lectures on conveyancing will be devoted to practical aspects of the matter, and will enable an apprentice to obtain that groundwork which will make him more useful in the office. The Council also hope that masters of apprentices, who have obtained certificates of having attended and obtained credit for Course C, will feel justified in delegating a certain amount of conveyancing work of a simple nature to them. The other most important change effected by the new regulations is in regard. to the questions as to due service under indentures of apprenticeship. Heretofore, the questions have been required to be answered by the apprentice and by the master only at the time of the apprentice's application for admission as a solicitor. The questions to be answered by the master will now be replaced by a Statutory Declaration as to the apprentice's service under indentures, and both the answers of the apprentice as to due service and the master's declaration will require to be submitted to the Society on two occasions, the first being when the apprentice applies for permission to attend the Intermediate Examination, and the second being at the time of the apprentice's application for admission as a solicitor. It is also proposed to furnish to each solicitor about to take an apprentice, and to the apprentice after his indentures of apprenticeship have been registered, a copy of the questions which he will be required to answer, and a copy of the solicitor's Statutory Declaration, so that both parties to the apprenticeship deed will be aware, at the commencement of the apprenticeship, of the precise obligations entailed by the Solicitors (Ireland) Act, 1898, and the Society's regulations. Undercutting Charges " THE Disciplinary Committee recently pronounced their Findings and Order in a case which may be of general interest. The respondent was charged with professional misconduct in that he had, notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 2 of the Solicitors' Practice Rules, 1936— (a) held himself out as being prepared to do professional business in a non- PROFESSIONAL ITEMS

attended) and the rights, duties and responsibilities of solicitors (4 lectures, of which at least three must be attended). Lectures will be delivered as follows :— Michaelmas Sittings—12 ; Hilary Sittings—21 ; Easter Sittings—9. Lectures on Monday and Wednesday at 3.30 o'clock, save where otherwise notified. For a selection of recommended reading see the published syllabus for the Intermediate and Final Examinations. The Lecturer will not necessarily undertake to cover the entire field in each subject or lecture out of any particular text book. He will advise the class as to its reading and will assume that each student will have read on the lines advised, in advance of each lecture, on the subject-matter of the lecture. The aim of lectures will be to guide students in their work and to illustrate, explain and supplement their reading. A written examination will be held at the end of each term's lectures. Courses B. and C. may be attended in the same year, but Course A. must be completed before either Course B. or C. is commenced. An apprentice who has on ist October, 1948, already attended and obtained credit for the Society's Junior and Senior Lectures is eligible for Course C. lectures, but is not obliged to attend them. Every other apprentice is obliged to take Courses A. B. and C. LEGAL EDUCATION THE Council have made new regulations amending the regulations dated 6th October, 1948. It is provided that nothing in the regulations shall operate so as to oblige an apprentice, who has already attended and obtained credit for the Society's lectures in Common Law and Real Property, Equity and Conveyancing, to attend any further lectures. Every apprentice who does not fall within the above-mentioned class will be obliged to attend and obtain credit for courses A., B. and C., parti culars of which are given in this issue of the Society's GAZETTE. The Council attach particular importance to the new Course C lectures on the subject of conveyancing and general practice of a solicitor's office, and the rights, duties and responsibilities of a solicitor. It is felt that these lectures will supply a long-felt want. It is difficult for a master in normal cases to entrust an apprentice with even simple conveyancing matters owing to the