ADMISSION OF LAWYERS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30686, 27 February 1965, Page 22

ADMISSION OF LAWYERS

Normal Practice “A Pity” It was a pity that the usual practice for admissions to the legal profession was to have them in chambers, Mr Justice Wilson said in the Supreme Court yesterday. His Honour was speaking Ln open court at the admission as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Robert Sydney Boland on the motion of Mr C. M. Roper. The Legislature for good reasons had decided that admissions to the legal profession could be made in open court before the public as well as in chambers, his Honour said. He believed there was a public interest in the type of young men and women who were being admitted to a profession which had great responsibility, as well as some privileges. Admissions in open court would make the public more aware of the qualities and qualifications required of candidates. Candidates for the legal profession in this country required considerable professional and technical knowledge acquired over a long, tedious, and difficult period of study. However, no matter, how brilliant a candidate was, unless he was of good character he could not be admitted. It was a matter for pride that admission to the legal profession stamped a man as a person of learning, industry, and probity, said his Honour.