Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 94: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way many solicitors and others qualifying in the legal field can fulfil their training in view of the lack of apprenticeships positions currently available nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14392/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Section 29 (as amended by substitution by section 44 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994) of the Solicitors Act 1954 provides that five years continuous practice as a solicitor is required before a solicitor may, with the written consent of the Law Society of Ireland, take on an apprentice. The Law Society has recently submitted a proposal to me to amend the legislation to reduce to four years the number of years post-qualification experience required before a solicitor can take on an apprentice. The effect would be a higher number of solicitor apprenticeship positions becoming available. The proposal is to deal with the matter in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 that is before the House.