asked the Minister for Justice if he will intervene in the decision made by the Bar Council not to allow persons over 35 years of age to enter for examination.
77.
Written Answers. - Bar Council Examination.
45.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement on the decision made by the Bar Council that they will be debarring applicants over 35 years from Bar Council examinations.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 77 together.
I have no statutory function in relation to the entry requirements for the profession of barrister-at-law and I have no power to intervene in this matter. The Honourable Society of King's Inns is the private body which has autonomous powers to educate students for admission to the Bar; it is not regulated by statute and receives no public funding. The Bar Council is the professional representative body for practising barristers.
I can say, however, that I regret the reported decision of the Society of King's Inns to impose an age limit of 35 on persons who may be admitted to study for the degree of barrister-at-law. It was reported that the decision was taken to help younger people to make a career at the Bar, but it will discriminate against mature students, many of whom have obtained the qualification of barrister-at-law in the past without intending to practice at all.
However, the education and training requirements for admission to the profession of barrister are among the matters being considered by the Fair Trade Commission in their current study of the legal profession and the commission's recommendations will be considered when their report has been received.