Practising Certificate (PC) FAQs
See answers to common questions about the PC below.
You can complete the Practising Certificate application online. If you have any query relating to your login, contact the Web Helpdesk on webmaster@lawsociety.ie.
It is a statutory obligation for all solicitors providing legal services to hold a valid Practising Certificate. Although firms may apply for the Practising Certificates of their solicitors, employed solicitors cannot absolve themselves from this responsibility by relying on their employers to procure their Practising Certificates.
Any applications for Practising Certificates that are received after 1 February will result in the Practising Certificate being dated the date of actual receipt by the Registrar of Solicitors, rather than 1 January. There is no legal power to allow any period of grace under any circumstances whatsoever.
You cannot provide legal services as a solicitor without a Practising Certificate in force. Therefore, if your Practising Certificate application is received after 1 February (and whose Practising Certificates are therefore dated after 1 February) and you have provided legal services before that date, you are required to make an application to the President of the High Court to have your Practising Certificates backdated to 1 January 2023.
Further information on backdating Practising Certificates can be obtained by emailing backdate@lawsociety.ie It should be noted that the Law Society will seek its costs of €350 per Practising Certificate backdated in all cases.
The Regulation of Practice Committee is the regulatory committee of the Law Society that has responsibility for supervising compliance with Practising Certificate requirements. A special meeting of the committee will be held on a date after 1 February to consider any late or unresolved applications for Practising Certificates. At this meeting, any practising solicitors who have not applied by the date of the meeting for a Practising Certificate will be considered for referral to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal and will be informed that the Law Society reserves the right to take proceedings in the High Court seeking an order under section 18 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 2002 to prohibit them from practising illegally.
The Law Society recommends that all employers should pay for the Practising Certificate of solicitors employed by them. If you are in doubt, confirm with your employer.
You can complete the Practising Certificate application online. If you have any query relating to your login, contact the Web Helpdesk on webmaster@lawsociety.ie.
The Law Society has partnered with NoFrixion to deliver upgraded services to solicitors, trainees, firms and all others who make payments to the Law Society. As well as changes to card payments to make processing quicker and more efficient, new options have also been added. You can now use Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Pay by Bank (currently supported by AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB and Revolut), enabling smoother transactions for both personal and company cards. These changes bring numerous benefits, including enhanced financial flexibility and improved services for solicitors and firms alike.
The Law Society recommends you apply for your Practising Certificate at least two weeks in advance of your return to the office to ensure the Practising Certificate is in force for your return date.
You can complete the Practising Certificate application online. If you have any query relating to your login, contact the Web Helpdesk on webmaster@lawsociety.ie
Once you login and click on the PC application, the online system will then open a Section 61 application for your completion before you progress to the PC application. You must detail how you have kept up to date with legal matters since you last held a Practising Certificate in this jurisdiction. Once you submit the Section 61 application online, the online system will then open the PC application for you to complete and submit.
You should inform the Law Society by email to pc@lawsociety.ie of your change of employment by providing your cessation date with your old employer and commencement date with your new employer. Alternatively, you can edit your employer details on your online dashboard on the Law Society’s website.
Your PC travels with you and it is a matter between you and your old employer if they are seeking reimbursement of the portion of the PC fee for the remainder of the year. It is common practice for a new employer to reimburse the old employer for the portion of the PC fee for the remainder of the year.
If you are moving from private practice to being a solicitor in the full-time service of the State you should inform the Law Society by email to pc@lawsociety.ie of your change of employment by providing your cessation date with your old employer and commencement date with your new employer. Alternatively, you can edit your employer details on your online dashboard on the Law Society’s website.
As a solicitor in the full-time service of the State (within the meaning of Section 54 of the Solicitors Act 1954 (as amended)), you are not required to hold a Practising Certificate but are deemed to be practising. In these circumstances, a solicitor is eligible to apply for an ex-gratia refund in respect of the un-expired portion of his/her Practising Certificate for the number of full months remaining following your cessation with your employer in private practice. To request an ex-gratia refund application form please email pc@lawsociety.ie.
If you are moving from being a solicitor in the full-time service of the State to private practice you should inform the Law Society by email to pc@lawsociety.ie of your change of employment by providing your cessation date with your old employer and commencement date with your new employer. Alternatively, you can edit your employer details on your online dashboard on the Law Society’s website.
All PC applications are online on the Law Society’s website. If you have any query relating to your login, our webmaster@lawsociety.ie can assist.
As a solicitor in the full-time service of the State (within the meaning of Section 54 of the Solicitors Acts 1954 (as amended), you do not hold a Practising Certificate and therefore, you must apply for a Practising Certificate if you are moving to private practice.
To request an ex-gratia refund, submit the Surrender PC form.
All requests for a Certificate of Good Standing or Certificate of Attestation must be in writing by email to pc@lawsociety.ie.
