The Gazette 1964/67

work being done by local Bar Associations to make me realise more than ever what an essential part they play in our professional life. I know how much your Council appreciates the advice and opinions and the constructive criticism received from this source. In addition, they foster among their members that spirit of comradeship and goodwill which makes professional life so much more pleasant and worthwhile. Conclusion Of necessity I have dealt very briefly with matter which affect us all. I hope, however, I have said enough to reassure you that the mem bers of your Council are fully alive to the difficul ties which lie ahead. For my part I will do my best during the remainder of my term to carry out my duties in the best interests of the pro- ression. In doing so I have the great advantage of having the support of two excellent Vice- Presidents, Mr. Patrick O'Donnell, T.D., and Mr. James Green backed up by a loyal Council. The encouragement and assistance given by our Sec retary Mr. Eric Plunkett is beyond praise and I know I can rely upon him and his staff for its continuance during the remainder of my year. A discussion followed on the proposed Accounts Regulations and a further report thereon will appear in the next issue of the GAZETTE. COMPLAINTS The Society in the ordinary course receives a number of letters from clients with complaints about solicitors, and has a settled procedure for dealing with them. It is better, in the interest of clients and their solicitors, that complaints should be dealt with in this way rather than by representations to Govern ment Departments and outside bodies, who have not the advantage of knowing the particular cir cumstances of a solicitor's practice. The great majority of such letters either dis close no reasonable cause for complaint, or make charges which are found unsubstantiated as a result of the Society's inquiries. The practice of the Society is to sent a copy of the letter of complaint to the member con cerned, even where it seems to disclose no reason able cause of complaint. In such circumstances the member is asked for his comments and norm ally a copy of his reply is sent to the Society's correspondent. The attention of members is drawn to the fact that the issue of such a letter does not mean th-.it the matter has been prejudged in an-1' way, and

that the object of the Society is to obtain suffic ient information to enable the Society to answer the complaint, and, where appropriate, to clear the member concerned from any unjustified ac cusation. Where, as happens in the majority of cases, there is no question of misconduct the matter is dealt with by the Society's secretariat without reference to the Council or any Committee. In cases in which, having regard to all the circumstances and the correspondence, there ap pears to be an unsatisfied cause for complaint the matter is referred to the appropriate Com mittee of the Council. RECIPROCITY IN PRACTICE Occasionally the Society receives enquiries from members as to the possibility or otherwise of solicitors who qualify and are admitted to the roll of solicitors in Ireland practising abroad. Queries most often raised refer to Australia and Canada. From information supplied to the Soc iety from the appropriate authorities the follow ing information is available : — In Western Australia a person admitted as a solicitor in Ireland is not eligible for admission unless he shall qualify or further qualify in West ern Australia, nor is he exempt from taking the examination of the Barristers Board of Western Australia. In South Australia an applicant who has been admitted as a solicitor of the Courts in the Republic of Ireland would not be able to rely on that qualification to support his ad mission as a practitioner. If, however, he has also been called to the English Bar or admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Judicature in England, that qualification will make him eligible for admission. Supreme Court Examination Rules, 1935, which were revoked by the Supreme Court Admission Rules, 1955-62, did provide for the admission of a person who had attained the age of twenty-one years, and was either a natural born or naturalized British subject, but who was a member of the Bar of the Irish Free State or had been admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Irish Free State. It may well be that credit would be given by the University of Adelaide to an Irish solicitor for examinations passed by him in Ireland but this is a matter in which the Academic Registrar of the University the Legal Practitioners Rules govern the position in Tasmania. Sections 8 and 9 of the Act deal with the admission of barristers and solicitors fro'ii of Adelaide has final jurisdiction. The Legal Practitioners Act, 1955 and