Syme, James --- "Presidents page: A proud and noble heritage" [1997] LawIJV 1; (1997) 71(1) The Law Institute Journal 3

• A Proud and Noble Heritage
• Legal Practice Board
• 1997 Opening of the Legal Year

A Proud and Noble Heritage

The last day of December 1996 saw the passing of the Law Institute of Victoria as a statutory corporation and the birth of its successor, Victorian Lawyers RPA Ltd. However, the Law Institute will live on as the vehicle for the new voluntary membership regime. It is appropriate at this time to reflect on some of the landmarks and achievements in our proud and noble history.

The Law Institute of Victoria was officially born On March 18597 with David Ogilvy as the first president' This was twenty years after the first arrived in what is now but was then the 'Ort District of New South Wales. It was also only eighteen years after the first admissions before the Supreme Court in Melbourne. The beginnings were difficult and press comment from the time suggested that lawyers were not held in particularly high regard. In the depression stated: "Everybody, we suppose, will be in solvent presently, except the lawyers: as for them, they will certainly continue feeding on the community until all fail, when they will prey upon each other. Well, perhaps that is as good a way as any of getting rid of them." A major reason for the establishment of the Law Institute was the desire to raise standards and lift the reputation of the fledgling profession. The objectives of the new Institute provided for it to: represent the profession; contribute to the diffusion of legal knowledge; serve and maintain the integrity of solicitors; monitor new legist lotion and promote law reform; suppress illegal and dishonorable practice; pro mote good feeling and good conduct among the members of the profession; provide a

Fund to assist distressed members; facile irate resolution of disputes between memo beers and generally to consider and deter mine upon all matters affecting the inter sets and prosperity of the profession. In substance, it is these objectives that have driven the Law Institute over its 136 year existence. The initial annual subscription as &3/3/ which corresponds to about $4100 in today's dollars. Incorporation came with the passage the Law Institute Act 1917. The Law institute Journal first appeared in 1927. 1946 saw the enactment the Lega1Profession Practice Act and a major increase in the responsibilities of the Law Institute with respect to the regulation of the profession. Initial premises were rented but we acquired ownership of premises at the corner of Little Collins Street and McKillop Street in 1923. We moved to our current premises in November 1979. At the open in ceremony, the then Premier, the Hon RJ Hamer, said: "The Law Institute of Victoria was founded in a spirit of idealism and public service and it has never lost that spirit. It has given great value to the community and it has shown itself alert to change and flexible in meeting challenge."

I believe these words are as true today as they were in 1979. The need for a strong professional association for legal practitioners is as great as ever. If the Board of Directors which will replace the Council as from 1 January 1997 does its job properly, the new Law Institute will go from strength to strength, and in ten years we will be able to look back and say that the voluntary membership regime effectively imposed on us under the Legal Practice Act 1996 was one of the best things that ever happened to us.

Legal Practice Board

At a press conference on 10 December, the Attorney announced the membership of the Legal Practice Board and appointments to the Office of the Legal Ombuds man and the Legal Profession Tribunal. We are delighted that two eminent solicitors, David Miles and Geoff Torney, have been appointed to the seven person Board. The Board will have a huge task managing the transition to the new regime and the profession can be well satisfied at the calibre of the people who have accepted appointment. We offer our congratulations to all of them and also to those who have accepted key appointments with the Legal Ombudsman's Office and the Legal Profession Tribunal.

1997 Opening of the Legal Year

Details of the services on Monday, 3 February 1997 to mark the opening of the legal year in Melbourne were listed on page 4 of the December Journal. An innovation this year is a breakfast at St Paul's Cathedral at 7.30am. All practit ioners are invited and it would be pleasing to see a strong showing. Tickets can be obtained from Merryn Lawson on [phone]. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the breakfast.