§ [SECOND READING.]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD FINLAY)My Lords, this is a Bill relating to the examinations which have to be held by the Law Society, and it is rendered necessary, or highly desirable, by the war. By the Statutes under which the Law Society work, they are required to hold, at least three times annually, preliminary, intermediate, and final examinations for persons wishing to be admitted as solicitors. Owing to the war there is not a sufficient number of candidates at the examinations to justify the holding of more than two of each of such examinations annually. It is therefore proposed to reduce the number of examinations to two.
By section 3 of the Solicitors Act, 1843, as amended by section 12 of the Solicitors Act, 1860, candidates wishing to become solicitors must not submit themselves for the final examination until after the expiration of their articles, or if their articles expire in the vacation they may so submit themselves at the examination held in the term immediately preceding the vacation. If the examinations are reduced to two, candidates whose articles expire in a term during which no examination is held would be prejudiced by the delay. It is proposed, therefore, to allow the Law 83 Society to permit candidates to enter for the final examination at any time within six months before the expiration of their articles.
The duration of the Bill is restricted to the duration of the war and twelve months after the termination thereof, with power, however, to the Lord Chancellor, with the consent of the Master of the Rolls, to extend its duration.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2*—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2* and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.