The Gazette 1967/71

as in other professions, success mainly depends on the barrister's intelligence and ability, his con scientiousness and his capacity for hard work of a difficult and very responsible nature. A successful junior counsel may earn up to £5,000 a year and a senior counsel twice that amount. For counsel at the top whose services are in heavy demand these amounts may be considerably exceeded." Our own "Guide to Careers" booklet published in 1968 states that a junior counsel's annual income might be anything up to £5,000 but points out that there are many practising at the Bar who earn a great deal less than the figures quoted.— Editor. [Irish Independent, 16 July 1970] COMMISSIONERS OF CHARITABLE DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS Board Meetings, Michaelmas Term, 1970 Tuesday, 15 September 1970. REVIEWS OF LAW BOOKS By arrangement with the leading law publishers in London, review copies of recently-published law books will be available for review in the Gazette shortly. It is intended to draw up a list of members who would be interested to reivew law books in the Gazette. The Editor will indicate the length (in words) of the review required, and the latest date on which the completed review is to be received; in their own interest, reviewers will be expected to comply with the Editor's request. Reviewers will be entitled to retain the books submitted to them for review, subject to the Editor's conditions having been fulfilled. Members who wish to offer their services as reviewers should contact Mr. Gavan Duffy, stating which subjects of law they are interested in. Tuesday, 6 October 1970. Tuesday, 20 October 1970. Tuesday, 3 November 1970. Tuesday, 17 November 1970. Tuesday, 1 December 1970. Tuesday, 15 December 1970.

imbalance of the impression conveyed, the follow ing points must be made : (1) There are approximately 200 barristers practising in this country and very few, if any, of these regularly earn as much as £10,000 a year. Unlike other professions, the fees which members of both branches of the legal profession may "command" are in most matters effectively limited by statutory regulation and what a Taxing Master will allow. (2) The assertion that after three years a junior barrister may expect to earn £5,000 to £6.000 can have no basis in fact. Most junior barristers wait twice as long to make half that amount. A great number, if not the majority of the profession, will never earn that amount in one year through out their entire careers. While a survey recently commissioned by the Bar Council is not yet com plete, a survey in England showed that an average barrister earns £2,000 a year. In England there is a shortage of barristers, fees are far higher and there is a full legal aid system on both the criminal and civil sides. (3) Barristers cannot sue for their fees and must write off a high percentage of fees as never likely to be paid. (4) A barristers income is without any stability and he cannot look forward to a definite pension or even of ever retiring. (5) Whatever income he does achieve, he must pay all his own expenses of spending weeks from home on circuit, his own secretarial expenses and the continual cost of keeping abreast of legislation and legal literature. We feel that to give advice upon a career based solely on visions of glamour and unrealistic figures is misleading. The Bar is a satisfying career, but it is also, for many, rewarding without being remunerative. JOHN D. COOKE Honorary Secretary The Young Barristers Society titled "The Barrister-at-Law", issued by the Department of Labour—"A barrister is paid by way of fees from solicitors. In his early years at the bar, instructions from solicitors may be few and a new barrister should be prepared to support himself otherwise for at least three years, but when he has success fully handled some cases he will become known and his work will increase. A family connection with the law is obviously of great advantage, but, Law Library, Four Courts, Dublin 7. We quote Career Leaflet No. 96,

LAND REGISTRY CONVEYANCING PRACTICE RECOMMENDATION

Having regard to representations received from a number of members as to difficulties in connec tion with the transfer of registered land the Council have decided to recommend to the profes- 92