The Gazette 1967/71

Legal remuneration — Central Costs Committee The Council received a report from the Presi dent and representatives of the Society who attend ed a meeting with the Minister for Justice on 6th November. Correspondence has since been re ceived from the Minister arising out of the meet ing. It was decided that the Society's represen tatives should request a further meeting with the Minister to discuss the proposal of the Council that the Central Costs Committee should be em powered to make general orders dealing with pro fessional remuneration subject only to Parlia mentary control. Thirty-four solicitors were presented with their parchments by the President, Mr. James Green, in the Library in Solicitors' Buildings, on Tuesday, 8th December 1970. The President, addressing the newly-qualified solicitors and their friends, said: — Ladies and Gentlemen: This is my last public function before I hand over this chain of office to my successor on Thursday and I must say that it is one of the most pleasant ceremonies of the whole year. When I qualified before most of you were born we collected our parchments from the office and a little ceremony such as this was unknown. This was a pity because after all you are entitled to celebrate your achievement and it is pleasant for us on the Council to meet the newly fledged solicitors and for your parents to see some tangible evidence of your success achieved I know as a result of a lot of hard work on your part and often I am sure as a result of considerable sacrifice on theirs. You are now members of a profession and this involves not only a certain status and privilege but important duties — duties which you owe to your clients, your colleagues and to the Court of which you are now officers. You will forgive me if I repeat what I have said on previous occasions. The profit motive should never be the sole inducement you agree to enter the legal profession. It is a very rewarding calling not necessarily financially. A great deal of dedi cation is necessary in the interest of your clients and for your own satisfaction. No doubt some of you are impatient to set up on your own — my newly-qualified ADMISSION CEREMONY

advice and the advice of my Society has always been that the newly qualified solicitor should first practice for a year or two as a qualified assistant. The numbers coming into the profession are increasing steadily. We are keeping a watchful eye on this for fear that the profession will become overcrowded. At the moment many firms are overworked and understaffed but this situation could change very quickly. I do not think that any of you need worry however and certainly if you are prepared to start work in the country rather than in the city, you will certainly find employment, and get plenty of experience. I very much hope that those of you who do start working in Dublin or Cork will give any assistance you can to the Free Legal Advice Centres in those cities. No doubt you will all join the Law Society, your local Bar Association and also the Society of Young Solicitors which will help to keep you up to date if you attend their Seminars and lectures. I am happy to welcome you all on behalf of the Council and the Society. In addition to presenting parchments today I am particularly pleased to be able to welcome here Sir George Mahon who represents Messrs. Guinness & Mahon, the donors of a much appre ciated Prize which the Council has agreed to allot annually for proficiency at the Society's Third Law examination in the subject of Tax Law and Commercial Law. This prize, worth £50, has just been awarded for the first time and I am glad to avail of the opportunity publicly to thank Sir George on behalf of the profession for his firm's splendid generosity. PARCHMENTS were then presented to the following:—Mary Judith Baily, B.C.L., LL.B., N.U.I., Clounalour House, Tralee, Co. Kerry (Special Certificate); Brian Berrills, B.C.L., N.U.I., St. Alphonsus Villas, Dundalk, Co. Louth; Adrian Bourke, B.A. LL.B., Victoria House, Ballina, Co. Mayo; Anthony T. Burke, B.C.L., N.U.I., Greenhills, Kill, Co. Kildare; Michael E. Cusack, Drumrora, Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan; Peter J. Cusack, Orchard House, Clondalkin, Dublin, 12; Andrew J. O. Donnelly, B.A., T.C.D., Riverside, Dublin Road, Navan, Co. Meath; Francis Doris, B.C.L., 34, College Drive, Tere- nure, Dublin, 6; Eileen Doyle, Thornhill House, Cherry Gardens, Trees Road, Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin; Una Fleming, Camelot, Spiddal, Co. Galway; Michael Hanahoe, 35, Hollybrook Road, 134