The Gazette 1967/71

that the debating society has become almost the only organ directly facilitating the student in this regard. We feel that the role we have outlined applies to law students much more than it does to students of other subjects. Knowledge, maturity and broad- mindedness are the elements upon which justice is based. They are also the characteristics which distinguish the lawyer from the mere legal tech nician. Further, they are the requisites of a responsible social conscience and a lawyer who is lacking in that is betraying the best traditions of his profes sion. (3) The importance of debating in relation to modern legal training Ideally, we feel that legal education should be geared primarily towards instilling the above qualities in trainee members of the profession. Chief Justice Holmes of the American Supreme Court has expressed the view that "the purpose of legal education is not to train lawyers but to train men for becoming lawyers". However, the increasingly specialised nature of legal training today frequently inhibits this devel opment. Indeed, we believe that there is a great danger that modern methods of legal training may, of themselves, produce only young minds crammed with technical knowledge and nothing else. The crowded syllabus, the increasing numbers of students, the pressure on study facilities and the rising exam standards in the universities may lead many students to believe that the only purpose of higher education is to get the exams and get out as fast as possible. Indeed, as final year apprentices, we have all noticed a great decline in the quality of college life in the last two or three years in U.C.D., where most apprentices are studying. The campus spirit there is no longer conducive to meaningful dialogue and is instead, mainly characterised by brief acquaintainceships and superficial chit-chat in the Main Hall. In short, there is now little incentive for a student to avail of the sort of extra-curricular activities which may be beneficial to his develop ment and which his syllabus is incapable of pro viding. We feel that such an environment, however inevitable its emergence, is nevertheless intolerable for the full training of a lawyer. We recognise therefore, that in order to safeguard his necessary

general training that the existing extra-curricular activities should be availed of to the fullest extent by any law student who is conscientious about his career. It seems to us that the law student debating society is the main, if not the only, such organ. We, therefore, recommend that apprentices recognise that active participation in debate is of the greatest importance to them, both in their legal training and in their proper development as responsible individuals. (4) The facilities for debating available to solicitors' apprentices The facilities available to the Solicitors' Appren tices' Debating Society of Ireland are, without a doubt, far better than those possessed by most debating societies in any part of the country. The Solicitors' Library in the Four Courts pro vides an excellent debating chamber. In addition, the society has access to the Council Chamber and other rooms of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland for receptions, meetings, seminars, etc. A major advantage is the supper provided after each meeting. This is perhaps the society's most valuable asset for the following reasons. Firstly, it provides apprentices with the only significant opportunity they have of building up a wide circle of friends who will in later years be of great value to each other as fellow-practitioners. It is very necessary to appreciate that these contacts are made at a most favourable stage in the appren tice's career. It is of paramount importance to a solicitor to know the people he is working with. The opportunity of doing so may never present itself in such abundance as it does while an apprentice. In the second place, the suppers provide an informal basis for discussion with visiting chair men. In this way, an apprentice can benefit enor mously from the opinions of distinguished people whom he would not otherwise meet. Finally, the informal atmosphere which has made the suppers so popular also encourages new members to feel at home within a very short time and makes the eventual delivery of a maiden speech very much easier. It should also be mentioned that the society sponsors parties and dances which greatly enhance its importance as a meeting place for students. There are many incentives for those intending to begin debating. Indeed, we do not subscribe to the policy of keeping a high standard of debate by relying on a few experienced speakers, thereby 122