The Gazette 1975

Appointment of Mr. P. J. Connolly

The Council of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland have appointed Mr. P. J. Connolly, A.C.A., Director, Finance and Services Division. Mr. Connolly served articles with Briscoe, Smith & Co., Chartered Accountants, Grafton St., Dublin. Since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant he has had a wide variety of experience with Price Waterhouse & Co., Paris; Nitrigin Eireann Teoranta and other indus- trial companies. Since joining the Society's staff Mr. Connolly has worked on a number of consultancy assignments on solicitors practice in the U.K. Besides his normal accountancy work it is envisaged that Mr. Connolly will provide a consultancy service on a repayment basis to members on request. project and the contract with Messrs. G. & T. Cramp- ton, Dublin, will be formally signed in the premises on 9th September. The opportunity will be used to explain to the press and to the public generally, the Society's aims in relation to the new educational arrangements due to come into force on 1st October, 1975. It is expected that the premises will receive its first graduate students under the new arrangements in October, 1978. E.E.C. Developments In recent months the Society has been involved in discussions with the Department of Justice, the Bar Council and the European Commission on a draft direc- tive on the right of lawyers to provide occasional ser- vices in other Member States. Discussions have also taken place with representatives of the Law Societies in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland on the "Solicitors take their time in settling accounts!" That generalisation is a frequent criticism of the pro- fession because of delays in accounting to clients for funds received upon the completion of a transaction. The public is becoming more conscious of the value of money and the interest that may be lost because it is in transit, or—worse still—is sitting in their solicitor's office. To avoid recurrence of the criticisms the following accountancy procedure is suggested : In any straightforward transaction a solicitor should aim to account to his client the day after the transac- tion is closed in respect of monies paid to him for that client.

topic. Arising out of these discussions, significant amend- ments have been made in the original draft. The legal profession in this country will act as host to the half-yearly Meeting of the Commission Consul- tative Des Barreaux de la Communaute Europeenne which will be held in Dublin from 20th-22nd Novem- ber, 1975. Solicitors' Accounts A determined effort is being made to have all Solici- tors' Accountant's Certificates brought up to date. Action has been taken in respect of all Accountant's Certificates outstanding for the accounting year 1972 and earlier. Solicitors whose Certificates in respect of the accounting year 1973 are still outstanding, will be requested to take urgent action in the matter in the near future.

Settling Accounts with Clients

Where an unknown liability may exist the solicitor should account to the client the day after the transac- tion has been completed, but should point out to the client that he must retain a sum which will more than cover the unknown liability. If, through the complexity of a particular case, it will take some days for a solicitor to account to the client after completion, as a matter of prudent public relations and communication, he should inform the client of this fact and give the client a reasonably accurate date upon which he will render his account.

James J. Ivers, Director

General

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