The Gazette 1974

12, The Law and Practice in connection with Wills and the Administration of Estates; Paper 13, Land Law. (iv) Examination in Book-keeping. (v) Second Irish examination. Present arrangements Paragraphs 4 and 5 are covered by the President's speech, see pp. 142-143, starting with "Under existing arrangements, the Society requires apprentices to attend University lectures . . . " Reform of legal education Paragraphs 6 and 7 are covered by the President's speech, see page 143, starting with "Since 1961, it has been the stated policy of the Society . . ." New education regulations Paragraph 8 is covered by the President's speech, see page 143, starting with "Following consultation with the Universities, the Society proposes that as from 1st October 1975 . . . " Details of Society's course Paragraphs 9 and 10 are covered by the President's speech, see p. 143, starting with "The Society has agreed the outline of its course (Appendix B) . . . " (11) It is to be understood that in the making of the further regulations spelling out in detail the scheme of training, the future regulations will be substantially in accordance with the scheme now outlined in this expla- natory note and at Appendix B. Conditions of admission to Society's Law School under new arrangements (12) (i) Applicant with Law Degree. Subject to passing the statutory First Irish Exam- ination and obtaining a master, the applicant will be allowed to commence the three year apprenticeship and will be given an exemption from the Society's First Law Examination (new form).

(ii) Applicant with other degree. Subject to passing the statutory First Irish Exam ination and obtaining a master the applicant will be allowed to commence a three year apprenticeship- Before being admitted to the Society's Law School, he will be required to pass an examination at degree level in Contract, Property, Tort, Constitutional Law and two optional subjects. It is hoped in discussion with the Universities, to arrange that such persons will be in a position to attend the appropriate University lectures and sit the appropriate University examinations, which would be recognised for the Society's purposes. Ratio of Apprentices to Solicitors (13) At present there are approximately 600 appr en " tices in training and some 1,500 solicitors in practice- By comparison Scotland with a population of 5,212,00° and a comprehensive system of legal aid, has 3,50" solicitors in practice. Notwithstanding the high appren* tice/solicitor ratio, there is an unsatisfied demand f° r apprenticeship. The Society being conscious of the P r °k* lem of obtaining masters, agreed on 7th February 19' 74 that in these special circumstances, it would be p r ®* pared to consider applications from solicitors generally for second apprentices. Also, as an exceptional measure, it agreed to allow solicitors of five to seven years stand* ing to take apprentices subject to the Society's approve' in each case. Length of apprenticeship (14) Criticism has been voiced over the length oI apprenticeship—three years for a person with a Univer- sity degree. This is a statutory requirement provided for under Section 26 of , the Solicitors Acts 1954-196° and the Second Schedule to the Act. It cannot he altered without amending legislation. It is a factor which will be borne in mind in any future amendmen 1 of the legislation. —Continued on next pag e

Congress of French Notaries Th e 71st Congress of the Notaries of France will be held in the International Congress Hall, Porte Maillot, Paris, from Sunday, 27, to Wednesday evening, 30 October 1974, inclusive. The subject matter of the Con- gress will be " The Practice of Law in Europe and in the Common Market". Eight Commissions will examine different aspects of the problem. Instantaneous trans- lation into five languages including English is assured. A volume containing all the reports of the Commission will be sent to each participant. Accommodation for participants has been reserved by the committee in two hotels of 1,000 rooms each, the Concorde Lafayette and the Meridien, adjoining the meeting hall. Th e rates are 155 francs (£15) per day for a single room, including

continental breakfast, and 190 francs (£18) per day f° r a double room. The total extras include two lunches Monday, 28, and Tuesday, 29, for 130 francs altogether (£11.50). An official banquet in the Intercontinental Hotel on Monday, 28, for 180 francs (£16), a foreign participants dinner in the Palace of Versailles on TueS' day, 29, for 250 francs (£22), and a gala evening ° n Wednesday, 30, for 90 francs (£8.50). The registration fee for a participant in the Congress is 450 fran cS (£40), and for each member of his family 200 fran° s (£18). A prospective participant should write befar e September 15 to Ma d ame Boulanger, Boite Postale 62520 Le Touquet, France.

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