The depth and range of this textbook is truly phenomenal. It is an excellent read for both the student and conveyancing practitioner. As Professor Wylie pointed out in the preface to the first edition, it is primarily a text written by a lawyer for lawyers. This most recent edition, co-authored with Una Woods, retains all the essential elements that made the first and second editions so successful.

Irish Conveyancing Law explores the detailed and disparate elements of a conveyancing transaction in clear, precise language, never overwhelming the reader, but providing sufficient information in the footnotes so as to give direction to additional sources if required. This detailed footnoting is truly what makes this text so valuable for the experienced practitioner, though only the most ardent legal researcher would easily be able to track down many of the earlier cases referred to. Any conveyancer with a difficult transaction will undoubtedly find something in this text to assist in resolving the problem.

As Professor Wylie acknowledges, there are substantial changes to conveyancing law and practice in the pipeline. All consultation papers, reports and bills are referred to, giving the reader a vision of the future.

While the book was finalised after the enactment of the Land Act 2005, it is a shame that the authors were not able to incorporate the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006. The text does, however, explore the provisions of the 2004 bill and, as there was a nine-year gap since the second edition, this current edition was long overdue. Hopefully, the authors will not wait so long to furnish us with a fourth edition, particularly once the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006 is enacted and new rules are published by the Property Registration Authority.

The current move towards a system of electronic conveyancing means that this area of law and practice will change at an unprecedented pace and, thus, Professor Wylie and Ms Woods will be busy for some time to come. It should be noted that a review of this nature cannot do justice to a work of this magnitude. The text captures the full range and depth of this subject area and any reader, be they lawyer, student or lay person, will find something of value.

Review: Gabriel Brennan, solicitor, Law Society's Law School

Law Society Gazette Aug/Sept 2006