Madam, - In the midst of the Lynn and Byrne cases, and the many letters to this page, it is truly amazing that neither the Law Society nor individual solicitors have had the courage to admit there is something seriously wrong with the profession. Like any organisation it is only as strong as its weakest link.
Unfortunately for honest and sincere solicitors, the lack of any transparent and truly independent regulator makes it impossible for the public perceptions of mistrust not to tar all its members without exception.
Perhaps there is a logical explanation why gardaí (the law's enforcement officers) have an ombudsman, and yet the professional bodies of legal practitioners can remain independent of public accountability. To date, the Law Society has not satisfactorily explained the logic. An independent regulatory body made up of legal academics and non-Irish lawyers could bring the profession into the modern era; regulation is needed in matters of transparency, accountability and best practice standards in order to give the public confidence that any solicitor's client will be treated fairly and honestly.
Whether or not the sins of Linn and Byrne are common to many Irish solicitors is unknown. Often the Law Society will pronounce that only a few complaints are made against solicitors every year. However the public's unease at the present non-transparent disciplinary procedures, coupled with a danger of further litigation by any named solicitor, may be discouraging genuine complaints and thus gives a rather false impression of the level of public disquiet.
Without transparency we have only the word of the Law Society and individual solicitors stating a contrary argument. However the banks and even the High Court have recently discovered that a solicitor's word is not always his bond. - Yours, etc,
CIARAN WALSH, Kincora Drive, Dublin 3.
Madam, - James MacGuill, newly elected president of the Law Society, in a robust response to recent revelations concerning the debts incurred by Mr Lynn and Mr Byrne, has insisted the integrity of the profession is as great today as throughout its history (The Irish Times, November 9th).
He has hit the nail on the head. Nothing will change as long as the Law Society is allowed to self-regulate and hide its dirty linen behind closed doors with an occasional public slap on the wrist to reassure the ordinary people that the system works. It hasn't and it doesn't. - Yours, etc,
PAUL CARON, Blackpitts, Dublin 8.