The Gazette 1967/71

of the public. Such a refusal would simply lead to such complaints being addressed to the Department of Justice, Judges, or to letters in the press. It is better that such complaints should be dealt with by a professional body and the only method of dealing with them is to ask the solicitor for his comments. (i) Society's standard form of building contract. It was pointed out that the standard form contains no provision for a penalty where the builder is in delay. The President stated that this matter would be considered by an appropriate committee of the Council, (j) Public criticism of the profession on matters of costs in the daily press. The President stated in reply to a question that a full answer had recently been published in the Dublin newspapers by the Secretary in an article answering criticism of solicitors fees. We live in an age of a certain amount of student unrest and I was pleased that my first duty upon being elected President was to act as Chairman of a conference organised on the subject of legal education by the law students of Ireland. At that Conference I was able, to some extent, to satisfy Solicitors' Apprentices that the Council was very alive to the causes of dissatisfaction and the need for reform, and 1 promised that during my year of office I would press for this. That reforms are necessary in the field of legal education goes almost without saying. As far back as 1961 the Council sent to the then Commission on Higher Education their suggestions for alteration of the curriculum and the Solicitor's Apprentices and the Society of Young Solicitors are ad idem with us on what is required. Unfortunately in order to make the appropriate regulations it is necessary to introduce a Bill to amend Section 24 of the Solicitors Act 1954. It is contemplated that legislation will be based on the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1958 and will give the Council (subject to Judicial control) the power to prescribe the entire system of education and training. The main change contemplated is that a primary degree in Law of a recognised Irish University with a modicum of control being exercised by our Society as to both lectures and examinations, would be sufficient to cater for the academic education of apprentices. Certain lectures or tutorials would be given by the Society on certain practical subjects and new methods of The meeting then concluded. Education

teaching are envisaged. Following the degree stage the Solicitors' apprentice would attend whole time at the office of his master for approximately two years during which he would be entitled to remmuneration. This is akin to the scheme which has been in operation successfully in Scotland. It would also be our intention to extend Section 40 by provisions which would enable the Council to enter into arrangements with the King's Inn for a common system of education and training for Solicitors' Apprentices and King's Inn students and make reciprocal arrangements for admission of Barristers as Solicitors and Solicitors as Barristers. These provisions will be merely enabling and will impose no obligation on the King's Inn apart from agreement. The second schedule to the Solicitors' Act 1954 will, we hope, be repealed and replaced by provisions whereby the term and manner of Indentures of Apprenticeship to a practising Solicitor may bz prescribed by regulations. We have reached a stage where the enabling legislation has now been drafted and is being submitted to the Department of Justice. We have seen the Chairman of the Higher Education Authority and have been informed that the Authority would not at present intervene in a matter of this kind. The clear need for change was appreciated and the Authority will probably assist in the speedy passage of the Bill by recommending it to the Department of Justice. 1 would like to thank the Chairman for his sympathetic approach. With his appreciation of the necessity to avoid any further delay and the assurance of his support we are optimistic enough to feel that we will have the full co-operation of the Universities in negotiating arrangements later whereby the primary degree will be of a standard acceptable to us. We also feel that talks of University merger need not occasion insuperable difficulty. A liaison committee representative of the body of Solicitors' Apprentices has been formed. We have had meetings with them and we have been most impressed with the sincerity of their representatives and the validity of many of their complaints and the reasonableness of their requirements. 1 think they appreciate the willingsness of the Council to co-operate fully with them. Social Service Much has been heard in recent times as to the role of the Solicitor in Society. we have always been proud of the fact that our profession pro- :3