LEGAL EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 239, 6 July 1931, Page 8

LEGAL EDUCATION

Address by Sir T. Sidey NEW COUNCIL MEETS An Important Advance The opinion that the passing of the University Amendment Act last year was the most important step taken in connection with legal education during the last half-century, was expressed by Sir Thomas Sidey, the Attorney-General, at the first meeting of the recently-establish-ed Council of Legal Education last Friday. The meeting was held at the residence of the Hon. Mr. Justice Ostler, and among those present were Sir Michael Myers, Chief Justice, Professor Adamson, Messrs. A. H. Johnstone, P. Levi and J. B. Callan. The Hon. J. A. Hanan, ProChancellor of the University; Mr. H. F. von Haast, treasurer, and Mr. E. T. Norris, registrar, represented the Senate of the University. The Chief Justice was elected chairman of the council. In addressing the meeting, Sir Thomas Sidey said he was entitled to feel some gratification as the council was in a large measure a creation of his own. The meeting signalised the consummation of an effort to place legal education on a more satisfactory basis and the institution of the council and the elimination of dual control in the courses of study marked a very important step. Sir Thomas said one had to go back to the year 1882 to find an event comparable in importance. It was in that year that articles were abolished and the right was granted of admission to practice on examination only, and /without any requirement of practical experience. The legislation of last year provided the machinery for the ■ introduction of such reforms as might from time to time be considered desirable. If it was thought right not only in the interests of the profession, but more especially in the public interest, that those who were admitted should have had some practical experience there was now no obstacle in the way of such provision being made. On the other hand it might be thought desirable that at, say, Victoria University College—which it was understood 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 schools. Here practical work of all kinds could be done, including the drawing of deeds and documents, the preparation of cases for trial, and the pleading before a judge or judge and jury. The way was now clear for the creation of such an institution and for its recognition by the university. The establishment of such a school might be commended to some public-spirited citizen or citizens as an object worthy of private benefaction, said Sir Thomas.

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. The speaker said 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. When that time came the necessity for a body such as the council might become even greater than to-day because of the desirability of co-ordination, ’ and of securing some uniformity. The circumstances might indeed require an extension of the council’s functions. So far as the immediate work of the council was concerned, Sir Thomas said, 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, it would recommend for future years. Any 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. Maintaining Traditions. Sir Thomas said he hoped that one of the results that would flow from the work of the council would be that those admitted to practise would be imbued with a very keen sense of the 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 yeans of preparation might, to a greater extent than at present, be • a trying-out period affording- opportunity for judging the moral fibre of students.' Sir Thomas said he had the utmost confidence in the personnel of the council. Its members had special qualifications for their duties, and he was sure that the council had the confidence of the profession throughout New Zealand. The council considered various questions relating to legal education, and passed motions making certain recommendations to the Senate through the Academic Board.