The following page outlines the procedure for applying for Admission to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland for Barristers admitted in Northern Ireland. Barristers from other jurisdictions should make contact with the Society in advance of an application by emailing admissions@lawsoc-ni.org.

Please refer to the Solicitors Admission and Training (Requirements for NI Barristers) Regulations 1990 (available for download below) which are the framework for this route.

Application

In order to apply for admission under this route you must complete and submit application form EF7A, which can be downloaded below. Applicants should allow a minimum of three months for the application process to be completed.

The application contains a number of declarations which the applicant has to make 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:

  • Certified copy of the application's Call to the Bar of Northern Ireland;
  • Fitness Certificate from the The Bar of Northern Ireland;
  • An up-to-date CV outlining the applicant's work experience at the Bar and/or the history of their employment.
  • At least two character references, the referees must be members of the applicant's professional body of at least five years standing. If the applicant is currently in employment one of the referees must be from his/her current firm.

Fees

Application and Registration Fee: £150.00

Payment should be made by bank transfer. We no longer accept payments by 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.

Please note: all newly admitted solicitors are subject to three year's restriction from practice on their own account i.e. as principals or sole practitioners. In certain circumstances the Society may grant a waiver of this restriction.

Submission

Upon submission of your application and supplementary papers, your application will be reviewed by the Admissions team. If all paperwork is in order it will go before the next available Education Committee for consideration.

If the application to register as a student is approved, transferring Barrister applicants are asked to complete

  1. The following courses at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in Belfast:
    1. Administration of Estates
    2. Property Law and Practice: Part 1 & 2
  2. If the applicant has less than three years experience of active practice at the Bar, they may be asked to complete a period of pre-admission employment in a solicitor's office of one year.

On successful completion of these requirements, the applicant may apply to be admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland. Evidence will be required at this stage, including a Certificate of Disbarment

If you are requesting an exemption to any element of the above requirements, you must submit a covering letter (and any supplementary evidence) along with your application, clearly explaining your request(s) and rationale. Further, if you are requesting to complete the courses and in-office period concurrently then this must be outlined on a covering letter. The Education Committee will consider each application and any exemption request on an individual basis.