The Gazette 1996

GAZETTE

N E W S

In-House Solicitors Newsbrief

organisation of seminars and the promotion of legal research. Law Society Council Elections The Law Society is committed to ensuring that the interests of solicitors in the corporate and public services sectors are reflected in the representative, educational and regulatory roles of the Society. Our committee had been of the opinion that these objectives would be assisted by solicitors in the corporate sector being given nominated seats on the Council of the Law Society. Accordingly, when the Review Working Group for the Law Society was established, the committee used this opportunity to make a submission to the Review Group recommending nominated seats for the sectors. However, when the Review Working Group reported, it was stated at paragraph 3.8: "The group discussed, but unanimously rejected, the allocation of seats on the Council for sectional representatives such as corporate, newly qualified, female or assistant solicitors. Nevertheless it was felt that positive steps should be taken to encourage their participation and that the proposed new time-limits for service on the Council might serve to do so. In addition, the views of sectional interests within the profession could be represented by appropriate appointments to relevant committees". While disappointed that the recommendation of the committee did notfind favour, the committee accept that the way forward now is for solicitors in the sector to seek nomination in the general election and to be elected to Council. Nominations for election to Council must be with the Society by 4.00pm on the 10th October. 235

itself, of course, provides for its own amendment. The second practical step the committee has taken is to organise the meeting itself. Thirdly, the committee was of the opinion that it would be difficult for the solicitors in the sector, many of whom do not meet other solicitor colleagues in the course of their work, to organise elections to thefirst Council. The committee will seek nominations on an informal basis both from the principal groupings in the sector and from groupings which would represent the solicitors not falling into those principal groupings. The constitution has been drafted to ensure representation from all groupings. If you would be interested in being nominated to the Council of the Association, you should contact myself or Therese Clarke of the Law Society. Tel. 8681220 with details. It will be a matter for the meeting, on the evening, to ratify or not ratify the nominations. Directory Project I hope that you will be now have received and returned your questionnaire. I would encourage you again to pass on to colleagues, who may not yet be on our mailing list, the second copy of the questionnaire sent to you. European Company Lawyers Association (AEJE/ECLA) ECLA is a European umbrella group for associations of solicitors in the Corporate and Public Services sectors. Up until now, there has been no Irish representation. Initial enquiries have been made with regard to membership. The purposes of ECLA are principally the representation of members at European and international level, contracts and exchange of professional information among members, and the

Michael Carroll

This Newsbrief is intended for solicitors in the Corporate and Public Services sectors. Inaugural Meeting of Association I am delighted to announce that the meeting to inaugurate an Association of Solicitors in the Corporate and Public Services sectors will be held on Wednesday, 23 October in Blackhall Place. I look forward to meeting many of you there. The formation of an association has been expressed by many members as being very desirable. Our committee, which is a committee of the Law Society, has been happy to facilitate the formation. The committee has spent a considerable amount of time in considering what practical steps would best assist. The committee was of the opinion that thefirst step should be to draft a constitution. This would assist the incoming Council of the Association. A constitution has been drafted and a copy of this will, as promised, be circulated to all the solicitors on our mailing list. It will be a matter for the Association to decide whether or not to adopt this particular constitution. The constitution