Madam, - I refer to the article in your edition of Friday, March 21st, headed "Report urges opening up of solicitors' profession". I wish to make a couple of points regarding conveyancing practice as carried on by solicitors.
Conveyancing is lawyers' work. Apart from the specialised knowledge required to deal with matters of title and planning laws and regulations, the art of the lawyer/solicitor is essential to cope with what is invariably the most important single aspect in a sale, the drafting and agreeing of the terms of the contract for sale.
Secondly, conveyancing practice in this jurisdiction hangs on and depends to a very large extent on the system of solicitors' undertakings. In virtually every transaction, at some stage, solicitors whether acting for vendor or purchaser, are required to give personal undertakings to banks and other lending institutions and also to each other in order to facilitate the closing of sales.
No undertaking by a solicitor can be given lightly and commits the solicitor absolutely; any failure to comply results in the possibility of legal action against him/her and disciplining by the professional body, the Law Society.
The system of conveyancing may not be perfect, but the fact of it being conducted by solicitors has stood the test of time. - Yours, etc.,
STANLEY BELFORD,
Solicitor (Retired),
Merville Road,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.