The Gazette 1989

GAZETTE

NOVEMBER 1989

From the President . . . (

discuss any topics of current interest and to hear their views. I will of course be greatly dependent upon the help and co-operation of the Council and the various Committees.

with what is going on in Blackhall Place and also gives me the opportunity of hearing the thoughts and views of the members of the profession. I am very anxious during my year that there should be regular consultation and communi- cation between the Council and officers of the Society and all the members throughout the country. I am also very anxious to urge all members to join the Solicitors Financial & Property Services Company as there are great benefits to be gained. I am glad to say that at the moment the membe r sh ip figures are very encouraging. I have also no doubts that the meetings and workshops now being arranged throughout the country will further promote and encourage membership. In my view this is the best opportunity that the profession have had for many years to restore the image in the public mind that the Solicitor should be the advisor on financial matters. We are all aware of the erosion that has been suffered by Solicitors through the expansion of the activities of the Accountants, Banks, Insurance Brokers and Estate Agents. Later on during the early part of 1990 I will be urging all the mem- bers of the profession to make certain that they have Professional Indemnity Insurance and that they have adequate cover. In this regard I ask all the members to support our own Solicitors Mutual Defence Fund Limited. I know that earlier this year other companies were offering very competitive rates but I think it is interesting that none of these rates was available or was offered until such time as we established our own Fund. It is to the mutual interest of all members to support our own Fund. I will just close by saying how greatly I apprectiate the honour that has been bestowed upon me by my profession and I will try my utmost to serve the profession up to the same high standard as my predecessors have done. It is my intention during my year to have as much consultation as possible with the profession and I will be very pleased to meet any members of the profession who would like to

ERNEST J. MARGETSON, President.

ERNEST J. MARGETSON PRESIDENT 1989 / 90 Mr. Ernest J. Margetson has been elected President of the Law Society. Mr. Ma r ge t son was educated at the High School and Trinity College, Dublin, and was admitted as a solicitor in 1951. He is senior partner in the firm of Matheson Ormsby Prentice. He was Honorary Secretary of the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association and also President of that Associ- ation. He was elected to the Council in 1974 and has served as Chairman of the Professional Pur- poses, Compensation Fund, Regis- trars and Finance Committees. He was Junior Vice-President of the Society for the year 1982/83. He is a Director of Solicitors Financial & Property Services Company and Solicitors Mutual Defence Fund Ltd. Mr. Margetson and his wife, Ruth, have t wo children, Stuart and Gay. Stuart is also a partner in Matheson Ormsby Prentice.

Having been elected President of the Law Society at the Council meeting on 16th November this is my first message to the profession. Firstly, I would like to congratulate my predecessor Maurice Curran who put in a tremendous amount of work during the year, travelled ex- tensively and spared no effort in working for the benefit of the pro- fession. It was a difficult year with matters such as the Building Societies Act and the recently im- plemented changes in the education system. We were fortunate in hav- ing Maurice Curran there to lead and guide us through some difficult times. I genuinely say "thank you Maurice". Obviously it is impossible to anticipate what will arise during the coming twelve months but it seems fairly certain that we will receive the report of the Fair Trade Commission on legal services and hopefully the Solicitors Bill will be introduced in the Oireachtas. We already have Committees appointed who will be in a position to deal immediately with both of these subjects and take all steps that may be necessary. I can assure the profession that they will be fully briefed on all developments and there will be full consultation through the Bar Associations. During my year I look forward to travelling throughout the country and meeting as many members of the profession as I possibly can. I hope that all the members will attend the various Bar Association meetings at which I will be present as this is one of the great oppor- tunities to keep you fully updated

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