The Gazette 1974

(v) BILLS OF COSTS: Sometimes persons write to the Society stating that they have been overcharged by their Solicitors. The standard form of reply is that the Society has no juris- diction in matters relating to Solicitor's Costs which are controlled as a matter of law. However, the Society may be prepared to express views on the correctness of a Bill of Costs on receiving same from the Client and on hearing from the Solicitor concerned. (vi) THEORETICAL COMPLAINTS: Any complaint which does not state the name and address of the Solicitor concerned is not answered directly. The Society writes to the com- plainant informing him that in order to properly consider the matter it is necessary to have the name and address of the Solicitor concerned. 3.7 Up to recently every complaint to a Solicitor warranted three reminders to the Solicitor concerned on the part of the Society. Now the Society will send one reminder only where the matter is a serious matter or the Solicitor concerned has shown no inclination in the past to respond to the Society's correspondent. 3.8 THE INSTITUTION OF DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST A SOLICITOR: The Registrar's Committee are responsible for instituting Disciplinary proceedings against Solicitors. The two most likely areas (apart from a Complaint) where a standard procedure would be desirable is in relation to:

(a) Failure to submit an Accountant's Certificate; (b) Failure to take out a Practising Certificate.

3.9 The Registrar's Committee feels that its role is one of help to the erring Solicitor even at a time when he has been given every chance to rectify the complaint against him. The work of the Committee is both arduous and time-consuming.

4.1 The profession are obliged by statute to provide full indemnity to members of the public who may suffer loss as a result of defalcation by any practising solicitor. The contribution for the year under review was fixed at £20.

COMPENSATION FUND COMMITTEE

4.2 Payments from the fund in respect of ascertained losses and other expenses during the year amounted to £15,354.

Gerard M. Doyle,

Chairman

Walter Beatty John F. Buckley Anthony E. Collins Laurence Cullen James R. C. Green Brendan A. McGrath Patrick F. O'Donnell David R. Pigot Mrs. Moya Quinlan

4.3 The book value of the Fund as at 30th April 1974 was £375,201.

4.4 The report of the Compensation Fund for the year ended 30th April 1974 is considered satisfactory.

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