The Gazette 1991

GAZETTE

NOVEMBER 1991

Concluding Message From Out-going President Donal Binchy Lawyers Face Same Problems Worldwide

It was my privilege to represent the profession at the American, Canadian and Australian Confer- ences. In doing this I left Ireland on the 9 August and arrived back 40 days later. Half the time of Phileas Fogg I All three conferences were very impressive and the business and social programmes quite intensive. Some of the highlights included: 1. The Presentation of the Francis Rawle Award in Atlanta to John Buckley in recognition of his contribution to continuing education of the legal pro- fession. This was the first time that this award was given to a lawyer outside the States. The Irish contingent was very proud to be present at this award, to hear the glowing tributes paid to John and his own eloquent response. 2. The establishment of an exhibitor's stand by the Law Society at Atlanta. The interest shown in the stand and the numbers attracted was beyond our best expectations. The pur- pose of the stand was to establish Ireland as the legal gateway to Europe and to make it known in America that our profession can provide services that are as good and sophis- ticated as anywhere else in Europe. I believe that a signi- ficant number of enquiries have already been received with good business prospects. It is, of course, open to all Irish solicitors to participate by purchasing a time slot on the stand and promoting their own firm. 3. It was during the Canadian Conference that the coup against Mikhail Gorbachev took place. I had the opportunity of joining with the International Bar Association in signing a statement deploring the coup and expressing our support and

solidarity w i th our fellow lawyers in the USSR. At the Canadian Conference I also had the honour of being made an Honorary member of the Canadian Bar Association. 4. On the social side in Calgary there was a mini rodeo with all the trappings of the Wild West including Bronco busting and bull riding. 5. At the Australian Conference in Adelaide t wo young Irish solicitors introduced them- selves to me: these were solicitors with full qualifications in Ireland but now practising in Adelaide. We had a long chat and they appeared to be very happy there. There were many other highlights at each conference including the Pro Bono Awards at Atlanta, im- pressive papers at business sessions, eloquent speeches and magnificent banquets ending with a Venetian Musical Ball in Adelaide. What are the lasting impressions or lessons to be gained from att- endance at these conferences? So much has happened so quickly there has been little time to reflect in any depth. What follows therefore are more in the nature of first impressions rather than definitive conclusions. There is no doubt that, with the speed of travel and communication the modern world is becoming a much smaller placa The movement and interaction of peoples, businesses and nations is now virtually global and not merely European. All of this requires a much wider range of legal service and a profession that is able to meet such international require- ments. If Ireland - and in the context of the legal profession Ireland's lawyers - do not keep in International contacts are vital

Donal Binchy (Out-going President, Law Society) constant contact with the re- mainder of the world we will lose touch and will inevitably be bypassed. It is essential, therefore, for our own growth and well-being that we maintain an adequate level of international contacts. Another strong impression is the particularly warm welcome that is given to Irish delegates. Perhaps this is due in part to our small nation status, but clearly the Irish dimension in the States, Canada and Australia has a large part to play as well. And this goodwill is an obvious asset to us in developing business and legal contacts. It puts us in an ideal position to take ad- vantage of the fact that Ireland is the first port of call from the West to Europe. Yet another strong impression left from my travels is that the problems facing lawyers through- out the world are very similar. This is both consoling but also more than a little worrying. There are very considerable pressures on the profession from all governments - stimulated I think by the consumer orientated society in which we live - to change some of the long standing practices of lawyers, to remove restrictions on advertising and price quotations, to allow other professions to engage in areas of work that have traditionally been 365 Lawyers face same challenges worldwide