The following page outlines the procedure of applying for registration with the Society as a Scottish qualified solicitor.

Application

In order to register under this route you must complete and submit application form EF7. This document is available for download below.

The application form contains a number of declarations regarding criminal convictions, insolvency and professional misconduct. If you are unable to make any of these declarations you should provide full details in a covering letter.

The Society's Character and Fitness Policy is accessible by clicking here.

Supporting Documents

You are required to submit a number of supplementary evidence documents and information alongside your application form, details of which are as follows:

  • a Certificate of Good Standing from any and all jurisdictions in which you have been admitted, stating that you are a fit and proper person to practice as a solicitor in Northern Ireland;
  • a certified copy of your original Admission Certificate from any and all jurisdictions in which you have been admitted;
  • a description of your work experience since admission, in chronological order

  • two character references, the referees must be solicitors within your professional body or Northern Ireland of at least five years standing. If you are currently in employment one of the referees must be from your current firm
     

Fees

The following fees apply for Scottish solicitors seeking to register with the Society:

  • Application and admission fee: £150.00 (this is paid at the point of application)
  • Indentures Registration Fee: £187.50 (this is paid only once the Society has confirmed your registration)

Payment should be made via bank transfer. We no longer accept payment via cheque. The bank details are available on Section 8 of the application form.

Upon successful admission to the Roll of Solicitors you may be required to hold a Practicing Certificate (PC) and Personal Indemnity Insurance (PII), each of which require a fee to be paid to the Society. This will depend on your employment circumstances. If you are in any doubt or have any questions regarding your permissibility to hold a PC or PII, please contact the Society at PractisingCertificate@lawsoc-ni.org.

Submission

Upon submission, your application and supplementary papers are reviewed by the Society's Admissions team. If all papers are in order then the application is submitted to the Education Committee for consideration.

Solicitors from Scotland are usually required to complete the following:

(i) The following modules at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS) in Belfast:

  • Private Client: Wills Course
  • Property Law and Practice: Part 1 & 2

    You should contact the IPLS directly for details as to when these courses run and the associated costs: iplsenquiries@qub.ac.uk

(ii) a 6-month apprenticeship with a firm of solicitors in Northern Ireland. This will require the lodgement of Indentures and payment of the subsequent fee (as noted above).

 

At the discretion of the Education Committee, the apprenticeship and module completion may run concurrently. You must outline your request for this in a covering letter.

The application and all accompanying supporting documentation should be emailed to registration@lawsoc-ni.org.

There is currently no set deadline for submission of your application, but we do highly recommend that you lodge this by the summer so that it may be considered in good time. If your application is received too late then it may be that your place will need to be deferred to the next available entry point.

Admission

Upon successful completion and evidence of the above requirements, you will be invited to apply for admission to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland ("the Roll").

The Society will await notification from the IPLS that you have successfully completed the requisite modules before contacting you with details on the admission process.

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 shall not engage in practice on his/her own account, whether in partnership or otherwise, and shall act as a solicitor only under the supervision of another solicitor who has held a practising certificate for the previous three years.

A solicitor may 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 pre-emptively and so can only be submitted after the individual has been admitted to the Roll.