WHERE there's a will, there's a way to make money for charity - at least for the next few weeks. The latest scheme to raise funds in a field already heavily crowded is one which has, uniquely, persuaded solicitors to dispense with their fees - if only they could be encouraged to do so more often.
Will AID, which runs for the month of February, is also expected to encourage more people in this country to make a will seemingly almost 60 per cent of the population die intestate. Solicitors participating have agreed to draw up a client's will without charge on condition that a donation is made instead to Will AID.
Anyway, the scheme was launched last Wednesday over a lunch at Brubecks restaurant in Ballsbridge (even when solicitors embark on charity, evidently, they prefer that this should be in comfortable surroundings). Interestingly, the section of the restaurant not set aside for this group was largely occupied by a group of 53 gardai, no doubt discussing tactics for dealing with the current spate of crime around the country.
Four Irish organisations are set to benefit from Will AID, which could make up to £200,000 and has the financial support of Canada, Life. The heavy preponderance of dark suits at Wednesday's gathering indicates that both the legal and life insurance professions remain dominated by men, even though the director general of the law society, Ken Murphy, insisted that he and his 6,000 colleagues across the country are in general poorly paid.
Mr Murphy, who assumed his present role last March, is at 39 much younger than the usual holders of this office, which he'll retain for a five year period after which he expects to return to his practice. Since that's the case, no wonder he'd like to ensure that solicitors are better paid than at present. Meanwhile, the conversation among the Canada Life executives on Wednesday centred on their forthcoming convention. This biennial event is next scheduled for April and will take place in Dubai, but only the best performers in the company can expect to be invited. In this case, where there's a will, there isn't necessarily a way.