The Gazette 1973

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO APPRENTICES AND INTENDING APPRENTICES

The quota for degree entry to the Faculty of Law at U.C.D. is approximately 140. In addition to this the College authorities are prepared to- allot a quota of 30 places for non-degree entrants for solicitors' appren- tices. Fifteen of the thirty places will be filled by the College from students who qualify from the Matricula- tion or Leaving Certificate in order of merit. The remaining fifteen places will be filled by nomination from the Law Society*. The fifteen Law Society places will be filled in die following order. First from apprentices already serving under indentures by date of registration. Next from applicants for service under indentures in the order of lodgment of the petition and memorial provided that the candidates have passed the first Irish and Pre- liminary Examinations or obtained exemption from the Preliminary Examination. The Society has not been informed of any limitation or quota for entry into the Law Faculties at other colleges. Any apprentice at present serving under indentures who has not already obtained a place in a university law faculty as a degree or non-degree student and who wishes to be included in the Law Society's nomination list should write at once to the Society giving the date and other particulars of his- indentures of apprentice- ship. An apprentice who registers indentures without first reserving a place in a university law faculty may later be unavoidably postponed from entry for the Society's examinations in law until he has obtained such a place.

Limitation of places in Law Faculty University College Dublin The Council have been informed that owing to the number of students seeking admission to the Law Faculty in University College, Dublin, it is necessary to impose a quota on admissions. It is a condition precedent to entry for the Society's professional exam- inations that the candidate should have attended the law faculty of an Irish university either as a degree or a non-degree student. These lectures are in the law of real property, contract and tort for the first law examination and equity for the second law examination. Apprentices and intending apprentices should note the following matters : (a) A student will not be admitted to the first Irish or the Preliminary Examination unless he produces a petition and memorial s'gned by himself and by the intended master who is qualified to accept him as an apprentice. (b) Students are advised to ensure that they will be admitted to a place in the Law Faculty of an Irish University before registering indentures of apprentice- ship. (c) An apprentice will not he permitted to attend the Society's First Law Examination until he has pro- duced a certificate of credit from a University for attendance at lectures in the Law of Property, the Law of Contract and the Law of Tort and will not be admitted to the Second Law Examination until he has produced a certificate of credit for attendance at lectures on Equity.

NEW SCOTS COURTS SYSTEM A new svstem of "Justices' Courts", to replace J P and Burgh Courts after the reorganisation of local govern- ment in May, 1975, is proposed for Scotland in a Government White Paper.

authority district in much the same way as members of children's panels. They will be selected from all sections of the community, and, the White Paper emphasises, political party membership will be disregarded. The Justices' Court will have a wider jurisdiction than the existing JP and Burgh Courts. It will be able to try road traffic offences such as speeding and careless driving, and a wider range of common law offences. The maximum power of fine will normally be £100, and the maximum custodial sentence 60 days. The more serious road traffic offences will continue to be heard by the Sheriff, and, although able to endorse driving licences, the Justices' Court will not have power to disqualify from driving. In the larger centres of population the Government intends to appoint Stipendiary Magistrates, paid by the Secretary of State, to help to cope with the heavier burden of work in Justices' Courts. {The Guardian , 30/3/1973) 134

The Government proposes to take responsibility for administering the first level of summary justice out of the hands of local authorities. In Burgh Courts at present cases are heard by one lay magistrate, who is a senior member of the town council. The new courts will be an integral part of the svstem of Crown Courts, as a junior partner to the Sheriff Court and the High Court. They will, however, retain the Scottish tradition of laymen taking part in the process of criminal justice. Each will consist of a bench of three Lay Justices, appointed by the Secretary of State for Scotland on behalf of the Queen, and serving without payment. The Justices will be appointed for each new local