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oal experience in the employment of some solicitor. Taking the City of Wellington as an example, the Council find that of the thirty-nine practising solicitors who have qualified since " The Law Practitioners Act, 1882," came into operation, twenty-three had, before commencing practice, been engaged, in acquiring a practical knowledge of the law by service in a solicitor's office for periods of five years and upwards; nine for periods varying from three to five years ; three for periods varying from two to three years (one of these also acted as secretary to a Judge of the Supreme Court for one year), one for a period of a year and a half, and one for a period of six months, while one had been employed as an officer of the Government for nine years in the Deeds Eegistration and Land Transfer Department and Stamp Office, and for one year in the office of a practising solicitor, and one had acted for ten years as secretary to the Chief Justice. It is quite recognised by law students in New Zealand that it is useless to practise without previously acquiring the necessary experience. The law examiners employed by the New Zealand University, under whose control all law examinations are conducted, recognise the necessity for practical experience, and the papers set by them are prepared specially with a view to testing the practical as well as the theoretical knowledge of candidates. The Council encloses for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies a copy of the examination papers set at the last University examination, and also a copy of the New Zealand University Calendar. The Council is of opinion that the requirements of " The Colonial Solicitors Act, 1900," will be met if the Order in Council extending the Act to New Zealand requires candidates for admission to produce a certificate of a Judge of the Supreme Court that such candidate has, before commencing practice in New Zealand, been engaged exclusively in acquiring a practical knowledge of law for a period of not less than three years, either under articles of clerkship or law pupilage (under subsection (4) of section 5, or subsection (4) of section 16 of " The Law Practitioners Act; 1861 "), or otherwise in the employment of a practising barrister or solicitor. That, in order to meet the objection contained in clause 2 of the despatch of Bth November, 1901, it is further suggested that the Order in Council applying " The Colonial Solicitors Act, 1900," to New Zealand should contain a condition that, while the provisions of " The Law Practitioners Act, 1882," providing for the examination in law of English solicitors, remains in force, New Zealand solicitors applying for admission in England should be required to pass an examination in law similar to that required in the case of English solicitors applying for admission in New Zealand. The Council suggests, however, that the New Zealand law might with advantage be amended by providing that any English barrister or solicitor who has been in practice in England for not less than three years (the period of practice prescribed by " The Colonial Solicitors Act, 1900," as entitling a colonial solicitor to admission in England) be admitted to practise in New Zealand without further examination. , Martin Chapman, Wellington, 21st April, 1902. Vice-President, New Zealand Law Society.

Call to the English Bar of New Zealand Barristers of Five Years' Standing. The New Zealand Law Society respectfully begs to submit, through the Hon. the Minister of Justice, for the consideration of the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the subjoined statement of the disadvantages to which members of the New Zealand bar desiring to practise in England are subject, and to respectfully request that an endeavour be made to arrange with the authorities of the Inns of Court more favourable terms. Statement referred to. 1. That in 1882 the General Assembly of New Zealand passed an Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to law practitioners, intituled " The Law Practitioners Act, 1882." 2. That such Act provided for the qualification of barristers and of solicitors for the Supreme Court, and is still in force. 3. That particulars of the qualifications prescribed for barristers and for solicitors are contained in the rules and regulations under the said Act. A copy of the said rules and regulations is attached hereto. 4. That all law examinations under the said rules are conducted by the New Zealand University. 5. That provision was' made by the said Act for the enrolment as barristers of solicitors who should apply to be so enrolled within twelve months after the passing of the Act, but not otherwise, excepting on passing a further examination. 6. That, although by the said Act every barrister is entitled to practise as a solicitor, no solicitor, except as aforesaid, is entitled to be enrolled as a barrister. 7. That by " The Law Practitioners Act, 1898," provision is made for the enrolment as a barrister of any solicitor who shall have been continuously in active practice for five years. 8. That there are many solicitors in New Zealand who are not enrolled as barristers, and only a limited number of enrolled barristers are in active practice as advocates. 9. That section 6 (1) of the Act of 1882 provides for the enrolment as a barrister of " any person who has been admitted as a barrister in any superior or Supreme Court of any part of Her Majesty's dominions, and has passed an examination ... in the knowledge of the law of New Zealand in as far as it differs from the law of England." 10. That, notwithstanding such provision enabling members of the English bar to be readily enrolled as barristers in New Zealand, the Consolidated Eegulations of the Four Inns of Court make no provision whatever exempting New Zealand barristers from the necessity for keeping the terms required to entitle an inexperienced student to be called to the English bar.