Other legal matters in brief
Bar Council elections
Several big names in the legal world are up for election (or re-election) to the Bar Council next week. Ten of its 20 members are elected annually, five senior counsel and five junior, and elected members hold their seat for two years.
The senior counsel seeking election are Michael Collins, Mel Christle, Declan Doyle, Derry O'Donovan, David Sutton, Shane Murphy, Isobel Kennedy, Colm O hOisin, David Barniville, Mary O'Toole, and John Peart.
The candidates for the junior counsel seats are Fergal Foley, Helen Boyle, Bridget Bermingham, James Kelly, John P Kehoe, Kathleen Leader, Roderick Maguire, Eoin Hardiman, Gerard Meehan, Ronan Munro and Paul McGarry. Once this election is over, first item on the agenda will be the election of a chairman of the Bar Council from among its members.
Further seats can be co-opted by the chairman after the election from the membership of the Bar, up to a maximum of four.
Law Society Exemptions
There appears to be some confusion about the issue of Law Society exemptions arising out of a Law Matters item on a new law degree in Athlone Institute of Technology, where it was stated that graduates of this degree will be exempt from the Law Society's preliminary examination.
The Law Society's preliminary examination is required to be taken by non-graduates, and involves obtaining more than 50 per cent in tests in English, Irish government and politics, and general knowledge.
All graduates in all disciplines from all recognised third level institutions are exempt from taking this examination. Law clerks and legal executives with at least five years' experience who hold a diploma in Legal Studies, or an equivalent qualification, can also apply to the education committee for exemption from the preliminary examination.
New managing partner in William FryWilliam Fry has just appointed Myra Garrett as managing partner with effect from November 1st, 2008.
A graduate of UCD, she is a member of the Irish Stock Exchange and features as one of Ireland's leading corporate lawyers in international legal directories.
Criminal Law Conference
About 400 delegates from around the world are expected to attend the 22nd International Conference of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law, which will take place in Dublin Castle from July 11th to 15th next.
The theme of the conference is "Codifying the Criminal Law: Modern Initiatives".
The ISRCL is an international, non-governmental association of judges, legislators, lawyers, academics and governmental officials who have come together to work actively on the administration of criminal justice, both in their own jurisdictions and internationally.
The proceedings will be chaired by the Chief Justice, the Honourable Mr Justice John L Murray.
The programme chair is Prof Finbarr McAuley, University College Dublin.
The opening address will be given by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.
Irish speakers who are scheduled to appear at the international conference include Mr Justice Paul Carney, James Hamilton, Director of Public Prosecutions, Michael McDowell SC, Dr Harry Kennedy, Michael Staines, solicitor and Fr Peter McVerry.
Further information about the conference is available on the 2008 ISRCL conference website, www.isrclconference2008.com.
Solicitors and barristers will be able to transfer from one profession to the other much more easily with the launch of two new courses designed to fill in the gaps in their respective training.
The "Essentials of Legal Practice" Law Society course runs from August 5th to 27th next, Monday to Friday, from 9.30am to 4.30pm each day.
It is open to barristers with three years' experience who wish to transfer to the solicitors' profession and solicitors who have been out of practice for a number of years and who are seeking to refresh their knowledge for the purpose of re-entering practice.
Registered European lawyers and other legally qualified applicants can also take the course, with the prior approval of the education committee.
The topics covered are those which distinguish the solicitors' profession from that of barristers, including professional conduct, solicitors' accounts regulations, conveyancing and probate/tax.
Under a reciprocal arrangement, the King's Inns also has a transfer course for solicitors wishing to become barristers, the first of which has just finished, attended by three solicitors.
This was a four-week full-time course covering practice and procedure, both civil and criminal, including advocacy and drafting, and mock trials. Further details of future courses are available from the King's Inns.