asked the Minister for Justice if he has considered the judgment of the High Court delivered recently in a case (details supplied) and its implications for access to legal education; if he will ensure that the judgment is fully enforced so as not to allow for the restriction of numbers to legal education; if he will make his views known to the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Access to Legal Education.
52.
The implications of the recent judgment by the High Court in the case to which the Deputy refers is a matter, initially, for the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland to consider. The Law Society is vested, under the Solicitors Acts 1954-1960, with all necessary statutory powers to regulate the education and admission of persons as solicitors.
I understand that, since the Law Society's Law School was set up in 1978, all candidates who attained the required standard in its entrance examinations were admitted to the Law School, without restriction of numbers.
The educational and training requirements for admission to the profession of solicitor is one of the matters being examined by the Fair Trade Commission in the course of its current study of the legal profession. I propose to await the outcome of that study before considering whether there is any action with regard to access to legal education which it would be appropriate for me to take.