LEGAL EDUCATION

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1931, Page 2

LEGAL EDUCATION

FIRST MEETING OF COUNCIL

ADDRESS BY SIR T. K. SIDEY

WELLINGTON", July 6

The first meeting of the Council of Legal Education, which was set up under'the University Amendment Act, 1930, was- held at the residence of the Hon. Mr Justice Ostler, and was attended by the Chief Justice, the Hon.

Air Justice Ostler, Professor Adamson, Messrs A. H. Johnstone, P.. Levi, and J. B. Cn Han The Hon. J. A. Ha nan, Pro-Chancellor of the University, Air H. F. von, Haast, treasurer, and AH E. T. Norris, registrar, were present, representing the Senate of the University.

The Chief Justice was elected chairman of the Council, which considered various matters concerning legal education, and passed resolutions making certain recommendations to the Senate through the Academic Board.

The Hon. ■ Sir Thomas Sidey, Attor-ney-General, addressing’ the Council, said lie thought at would he acknowledged that tlie occasion was oiie upon which he was entitled to. feel some gratification, as the Council was in a large measure a creation of his own. That meeting signalised the consummation of an effort to place legal education dn a mote satisfactory basis. The institution of the Council and the elimination of dual control in the courses of study marked a very important step, j The first meeting of the Council was an | epoch-making event. One had to go back to the year 1882 to find an event | comparable in importance. It was in j that year that articles were abolished, | and the right was granted of admission to practice on examination only and | without any requirement ot practical experience. The legisl tion of last year provided the machinery for the j introduction of such reforms as might from time' to time be considered desirj able. Tf it was thought right not only in the interests of the profession, but more especially in the public interI est, that those who were admitted ' should have had some practical cx- ; perience there was now no obstacle in the way of such provision being made.

TRAINING AND PRACTICE. If, on the other hand, it were thought desirable that at (say) Victoria University College (which it was wnderstood would specialise in law) there should be established a school of .law fully equipped for practical training on the lines of the most up-to-date American school, where practical work of all kind was done, including the drawing of deeds and documents, the preparations of cares for trial and pleading before a Judge or Judge and jury, the way was now clear for the crey,tipn v <i.f, syjeh an ,i»stitjitipn, and for its recognition by tho University. The establishment of such a school might be commended to somo public-spirited pitmen or pitmens as an object worthy of private bonofaction.

DUAL AUTHORITY ELIMINATED. By the elimination of dual authority in the matter of educational requirements for admission the profession of law had been placed on the same footing as other professions, and he did not think he was over-stating the position when he declared that the legislation which had resulted in thy setting up of that Council was the most important step taken in connexion with legal education during tne last half-century. He felt sure that the Council of Legal Education as an institution had come to stay. He fully realised that with the growth of population the time would come when each of the four University colleges would be constituted as a separate university, but when that time came the necessity for a body such as the Council might become even greater than today because of the desirability of coordination, and of securing some uniformity of standard throughout the Dominion. The circumstances might indeed require an extension of the Council’s functions.

EXAMINATIONS. So far as the immediate work of the Council was concerned it would be asked to agree to the adoption for the time being of the same rules and regulations relating to legal examinations as were in force last year, but it would be' for the Council to determine during the next few months what alteration, if any; in those rules and regulations it would recommend for next year of future years. Any such alteration would require to be adopted by the Council not later than October as the Academic. Board would meet in November and the Senate in January. He was an hopes that one of the results that would flow from the work of the Council would be imbued with a very keen sense of their obligation and privilege to preserve above all things the honour and the highest traditions of the profession. Under the rules and regulations the ethics of the profession might well form a subject to be brought under the notice of every student, and the years of preparation might to a greater extent than at present he a trying-out period affording opportunity of judging the moral fibre of students.

Sriv Thomas said lip I> n d thp utmost confidence in the personnel of tlio Council. Its members lnd ? special qualifications for their duties, and lie was sure that the Council had the confidence of the profession throughout New Zealand. Tt was his earnest wish that it would'have a long and useful life, that it would fully justify its existence. and that its labours would bo- crowned ! with success.