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Restrictions on Practice
All solicitors who are admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland are required to serve a three-year period of restricted practice (three full Practising Certificates) under Reg 7(1) of the Solicitors Practice Regulations 1987 (as amended). This applies whether the individual trained in Northern Ireland or transferred from another jurisdiction.
During this period of restricted practice, a solicitor cannot set up practice on their own account or act as a principal in a firm. Furthermore, the solicitor must act under the supervision of a solicitor who has held a practising certificate for the previous three years.
If a solicitor wishes to act as a principal on their own account or with others within that three-year period, they must apply for a waiver of the period of restricted practice, as per Reg. 7(2)(a) of the said Regulations. This waiver request cannot be lodged preemptively and so can only be submitted after the individual has been admitted to the Roll.