ADMISSION & FIRST PRACTICING CERTIFICATE

Under Regulation 11(3) of the Regulations made by the Master of the Rolls, an application for admission may be made at any time after the applicant has complied with the Training Regulations or the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Regulations.

1 Professional Skills Course (PSC)

• A trainee is not eligible for admission unless all modules of the Professional Skills Course have been passed or been exempted.
• You should not apply for admission until you have received confirmation of all results and exemptions.

2 Change of Name

• If you have changed your name then you must indicate both names (i.e. present and former)
  enclosing the relevant evidence.

3 Certificates

• When providing evidence, the Society will accept a certified photocopy.
• If you do not hold a certificate you may provide a copied letter which should show the Institute's
  name and address.

4 Justices' Clerks Assistants

• You should provide a letter from your employers confirming you have served at least five years out of the last ten years in the Magistrates Courts Services as a Justices' Clerk's Assistant before attending the Legal Practice Course.

5 Applicants under the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test

• If your Certificate of Eligibility states an experience requirement you should provide a letter from your employers confirming the dates of employment with full details of your duties and
  responsibilities and the areas covered.

6 Ceremonies

• The admission ceremony will follow admission some months later. You will not be required to attend an admission ceremony on the date of admission.
• You will be notified of the date and if this is not convenient then alternative arrangements can be made by ringing the Law Society’s Information Services on 0870 606 2555.

7 Practising Certificates

Anyone who has been admitted as a solicitor and whose name is on the Roll is taken to be acting as a solicitor if he or she is employed in connection with the provision of any legal services by:

a) any person who is qualified to act as a solicitor

b) any partnership at least one member of which is so qualified; or

c) an incorporated practice

This means that you must have a practising certificate. It is immaterial whether or not you are held to be solicitor-The Law Society has no discretion in the matter and the date of your admission is not relevant.

If your situation requires you have a practising certificate and you do not have one you run the risk of being referred to the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors for practising uncertificated.

If you will be working for a firm but are not involved in the provision of legal services, clarification of your position can be obtained by writing to The Law Society, Professional Ethics Division, Ipsley Court, Berrington Close, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 OTD. DX 19114 Redditch. 

8 Newly Admitted Solicitors

Practising certificates are issued from 1 November to 31 October the following year.

Any solicitor who applies for their first practising certificate during the practising certificate year commencing 1 November 2005 shall pay a fee in accordance with the following scale:

a) Practising certificate issued 1 Nov 2005 to 31Oct 2006 inclusive - £765.00

b) Practising certificate issued 1 Jan 2006 to 31 Oct 2006 inclusive - £765.00

c) Practising certificate issued 1 Apr 2006 to 31 Oct 2006 inclusive - £510.00

d) Practising certificate issued 1 Jul 2006 to 31 Oct 2006 inclusive - £255.00

e) There can be no reduction for forms received towards the end of the last period

All practising certificates are due for replacement on 1 November.

You may still wish to refer to the Law Society's publication, The Guide to the Professional Conduct of Solicitors, eighth edition. Chapter 2 refers to Regulatory Requirements and Chapter 3 to Private Practice.  The Guide is now available ONLINE. 

If you expect to enter into partnership as soon as you are admitted, it is necessary to notify the Solicitors Indemnity Fund directly.

Until you have been admitted for three years, you will not be entitled to practise on your own or supervise your own office. The Professional Ethics Division can be consulted as to the possibility of a waiver of this rule being granted.

It is each solicitor’s responsibility to ensure that an application is made and statements made on the form are correct.

9 The Fee

• The prescribed fee for admission is £100.00 and cheques should be made payable to 'The Law Society'.

10 Forms

The completed form should be sent to Finance Department, The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL, in the first instance. If you wish to use the DX system then you can send documents to the Finance Department, The Law Society, DX 56, London/Chancery Lane. 

Any query regarding the documentation please contact Information Services on 0870 606 2555.  Lines are open from 8.30 to 17.00, Monday to Friday

11 Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

• All solicitors are subject to Continuing Professional Development.
• All solicitors have to maintain an accurate record of their CPD points.