The Gazette 1961 - 64

of the work done by these gentlemen during the past year. Post-graduate legal education ?3;When my predecessor, Mr. Overend, addressed you in general meeting last year, he told you that arrangements would be made for a series of lectures by qualified lawyers on matters which had been the subject of legislative change during the year. I am glad to say that your Council have been able to make arrangements in this regard and in the near future—starting next month—lectures will be given in Tax Law, Company Law and Town Planning and these lectures will, if suitable, be subsequently published by the Society in booklet form. Your Council is very sensible of the lack of legal textbooks and the difficulty in affording to our members up to date books dealing with our ever changing laws. I am, however, gkd to note that a book on the Practice and Procedure in Administra tion and Mortgage Suits in Ireland has been published by Mr. John W. Scanlon, Barrister-at-Law, Examiner of the High Court, and I recommend this publication to you. It is also gratifying to note that the General Council of the Provincial Solicitors' Association have kept this very pressing problem in mind, and have published a very useful booklet by Mr. M. K. O'Connor, Barrister-at-Law, entitled " A Guide to the Death Duties in Ireland ". Law Calendar and Directory The Society's Law Calendar and Directory were first published over seventy-five years ago and over the years the matters necessarily included therein have rendered publication to be somewhat unwieldy. Your Council has, therefore, decided in future to issue this publication in two parts—the first of which will be called the Calendar and will include all the permanent matter not requiring revision from year to year, such as the Solicitors' Acts and the Charter under which your Council exists, but provision will be made to keep this volume up to date by the insertion of supplements as and when the occasion should arise. The second part which will be called " the Directory " will contain the Register of Solicitors, lists showing the names of the judiciary, members of the Bar, the personnel of Government Departments and Offices and other matters of a changing character. It is hoped that by this revision the Council will have made its Calendar and Directory of greater use and assistance to the members of our profession. Membership of Society The Council are grateful for the support which the members of the Society have been at all times ready

to give for any proposal for the betterment of our professional lot. In this regard, may I stress the importance of every solicitor practising in the State being a member of the Society. Today an unorganised body can get nowhere and it has never been so important to achieve a position in which the Council may speak for the profession with one voice and with such authority to ensure that that I also appeal to each member of the Incorporated Law Society to be an active member of his local Bar Association. It is at local level that many of our problems are best solved and the harmony that exists between members of our profession is most striking in areas where there is a live energetic local association. Registration of Title Bill You are, no doubt, aware of the introduction in Dail fiireann of a new Registration of Title Bill which envisages the ultimate transfer to the Land Registry of dealings in land and property at present registered in the Registry of Deeds. Your Council are always ready to give their support and encourage ment to any project which will enable the solicitors' profession to give better service to .the community and while the passing of the Registry of Deeds will leave a nostalgic pang, we view the new proposal with interest. . They, however, trust that before any additional work is placed upon the Registrar of Titles and his ever courteous and kindly staff that due provision will be made to cope with the increased volume of business both as to the provision of personnel and the making available of suitable accommodation. Legal Aid Regulations have been drafted pursuant to the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act, 1962, and are at present the subject of discussion between your Council and officials of the Department of Justice. Your Council have informed the Minister that they view this novel subject as most important in the social legislation of the State and that they are anxious to evolve a scheme that will make it work and work well. It is invisaged that each County Registrar shall prepare a panel of all solicitors practising in his area who are willing to act for persons who in criminal matters are granted certificates for free legal aid. Your Council hope at a very early date to agree to proposals in the regulations regarding costs and expenses so that this important reform will soon be in force. • • ; 55 voice will be heard. Bar Associations