The Gazette 1967/71

from many quarters-from members of the public, often those who have been unsuccessful in liti gation; from other members of the profession; from barristers unable to obtain payment of fees; from members of the Oireachtas on behalf of their constituents; from other professional people en gaged by the solicitor on behalf of a client and from solicitors practising in other jurisdictions. Many of the complaints could possibly be avoided altogether if the solicitors could keep their clients more in touch with what is happening. In this regard every solicitor must be regarded as a Public Relations Officer. Among the matters com plained of are :-delay, failure to account for money, failure to hand over papers, acting for two or more clients whose interests conflict and even complaints of delay in submitting bills of costs. A small number of the complaints received find their way to the Registrars Committee yet that committee's agenda includes some two hours work every second week. The majority of com plaints are dealt with by the staff of the Society and the matter is disposed of satisfactorily. A complaint which is made with some fre quency is that one solicitor will not accept in structions to act against another in an action for negligence. It is appreciated that it is never a pleasant duty for a professional man to take pro ceedings against a colleague, but solicitors are officers of the Court and they are failing in their professional duty if they are aware of an injustice and refuse on grounds of human respect or other wise to protect the rights of the citizen. In March 1967 we wrote of an Assistant Required, now that a twelvemonth has elapsed we consider he might move to greater things. 1. Pay pre-war wages—everything pre war was solid and safe. 2. Expect the impossible and you may discover the usual (i.e. the assistant is a human being). 3. Do not provide a separate office for new comers, this induces conceit, let him start at the bottom of the ladder, preferably indexing old files in the basement. 4. On no account let good clients go to Mr. X, he may make a diplomatic blunder by telling the blunt truth. POSITION VACANT or (How to rid oneself of an assistant)

5. If a problem may be solved in several ways, insist that there are only two methods, yours and the wrong one. Demand that your method be followed-this enkindles indignation which will provide the momentum to move on. 6. Keep nagging about trivialities from day to day-beware of offering helpful criticism on a matter of real importance. 7. Arrive late in the office each morning to show who is the boss-correspondence may await your hallowed hands but Mr. X must learn to festina lente. 8. Delay his departure each evening-Mr. X may have a home but his domestic or per sonal life are no concern of yours-are they? To ask the Minister for Justice if he will say in respect of the year ended 31st July 1967 (a) the total number of court orders lodged with sheriffs and county registrars for execution, (b) the returns of nulla bona and (c) seizures and sales effected. —Richie Ryan. Answer: The information requested by the Deputy is as follows :- (a) 15,275 (b) 6,027 (c) Seizures : 257, and Sales : 62. A BONE OF CONTENTION To the Minister for Justice. Question: HOME TRUTHS The Review of Contemporary Law (1/1967) contains an article on 'The new family code of the German Democratic Republic' by Hilde Ben jamin, Minister of Justice. The following quota tion is taken therefrom :—"An illigitimate birth should not be the source of inconvenience either to the child or to the parents. Any provision to the contrary is hereby abrogated". MEDICO LEGAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND The final meeting of the current session of the Society was held on Friday March 29th at the Royal Hibernian Hotel at 8 p.m. It took the 92