Applying for the Professional Practice Course
The Professional Practice Course (PPC) at the Law Society of Ireland is an important step in your journey to becoming a solicitor.
Before applying for the PPC you must have passed the Final Examination – Part 1 (FE-1) and secured a Training Contract. See here for further information on the steps to Becoming a Solicitor.
If you wish to apply to the Law School to commence the Professional Practice Course (PPC) you must have first:
- Passed the Final Examination – First Part (FE-1) and
- Found a suitable practising solicitor to act as your Training Solicitor and
- Be at least 17 years old.
The PPC Application process involves a number of steps and takes on average 3 months if you address each step in a timely manner.
- Submit your completed application form (see below) to the Traineeship Section.
- If your application is successful, the Traineeship Section will issue a Letter of Consent to enter into a Training Contract, along with your Training Contract.
- You and your Training Solicitor/Training Officer must complete and return the Training Contract to the Traineeship Section within 6 months of the date of the Letter of Consent or before the commencement date of the PPC, whichever is sooner.
- Once satisfied that your Training Contract has been duly executed, the Traineeship Section will arrange for it to be registered with the Registrar of the Law Society of Ireland.
- Once your Training Contract has been registered and returned to you, your place on the Professional Practice Course, for which you have applied, will be confirmed by the Traineeship Section.
It is your responsibility to keep your Training Contract in a safe place.
Please note: If any part of your PPC application is incomplete or incorrect when submitted, it cannot be processed and will be returned to you and this may incur delays.
Some firms have a Training Officer. A Training Officer is the designated person responsible for providing administrative assistance to each training solicitor in the firm.
To apply for the PPC, you must complete and return the PPC Application Pack, by post and email, to the Traineeship Section at the details in the Contact section below.
The below forms are contained within the PPC Application Pack, and all forms must be completed and returned in order for your application to be processed.
- Application Form
- Form 1 – this form is the application for Consent to enter into a Training Contract.
- Annexe to Form 1
- Form 2B – This form should be completed by your training firms’ Training Officer.
- Annexe to Form 2B to Form 2B – This form should be completed by your training firms’ Training Officer.
- Certificate of Proposed Training Solicitor
- Confirmation Email (receipt) of having completed the Disability Status Notification Form – DN1.
- Code of Conduct
- Education Record
- Employment Record
- Checklist
- Application fee €970
You will also need to include the following documents as part of your PPC application:
- Certified copy of your birth certificate
- One of the following -
- Certified copy of your University/College degree or
- Certified copy of your University/College transcripts or
- Certified copy of a University/College letter
- Two recent character references
- If applicable –
- Evidence of having passed the Preliminary Examination or
Evidence of having been granted an exemption from the Preliminary Examination.
Where your proposed training firm does not have a Training Officer you will be responsible for completing and submitting your application form.
To apply for the PPC, you must complete and return the PPC Application Pack, by post and email, to the Traineeship Section at the details in the Contact section below.
The below forms are contained within the PPC Application Pack, and all forms must be completed and returned in order for your application to be processed.
- Application Form
- Form 1 – this form is the application for Consent to enter into a Training Contract.
- Annexe to Form 1
- Form 2A – This form should be completed by your proposed training solicitor
- Annexe to Form 2A – This form should be completed by your proposed training solicitor
- Certificate of Proposed Training Solicitor
- Confirmation Email (receipt) of having completed the Disability Status Notification Form – DN1.
- Code of Conduct
- Education Record
- Employment Record
- Checklist
- Application fee €970
You will also need to include the following documents as part of your PPC application:
- Certified copy of your birth certificate
- One of the following –
- Certified copy of your University/College degree or
- Certified copy of your University/College transcripts or
- Certified copy of a University/College letter
- Two recent character references*
- If applicable - Evidence of
- Evidence of having passed the Preliminary Examination or
- Evidence of having been granted an exemption from the Preliminary Examination
Where a certified copy is required as part of your application, they should be certified by one of the following:
- a practicing lawyer in an EU country;
- an Embassy or Consulate;
- a Commissioner for Oaths: or
- a Notary Public.
The certificate must state that the documents are true copies of the original documents and that the original documents have been produced to the person so certifying. The identify and signature of the certifying person must be legible.
If your documents are not in English, an official translation must be provided. The translated documents should also be certified.
*Your two references should be no more than 12 months old and come from someone who is known to you and of some standing. The referee should confirm their occupation or position of responsibility, how you are known to them and for how long, and that you are of good character and suitable to become a trainee solicitor. Your referee may not be a relative or your Training Solicitor/ Training Officer.
Applications for the Full-time Professional Practice course close on the fourth Friday of May.
Applications for the Part-time (Hybrid) Professional Practice course close on the first Friday of October.
Late applications will continue to be accepted as long as there are places available on the Full-time or Part-time PPC.
There is a late application fee of €70.
The PPC application fee of €970payable by EFT:
Bank of Ireland, College Green, Dublin 2
Account name: The Law Society of Ireland
Account number: 16304279
Branch code: 90-00-17
IBAN: IE09 BOFI 9000 1716 3042 79
BIC: BOFIIE2D
Please put your name as a reference on the EFT payment.
Late applications incur an additional fee of €70.
Your application fee is not a deposit, and the amount of the application fee should not be deducted from the PPC course fee amount.
Once an application has been processed a refund of the application fee cannot be granted.
The PPC course fee for 2024 is €11,850. This should be paid in full before the PCC commences.
Fees for advanced electicves are in addition to the course fee and need to be paid in full before the commencement date of the electives.
There is a range of bursary and scholarship schemes in operation which may provide you an opportunity to access additional financial support on your journey to Becoming a Solicitor with the Law Society of Ireland, provide you meet the criteria.
Further information can be found at Funding Your Studies.
The Law Society of Ireland is committed to ensuring that learners with disabilities have as complete and equitable access to all facets of student life as can reasonably be provided. The Law Society recognises and values difference and is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for the benefit of all and endorses the principles of inclusive teaching, learning, and assessment. The supports you might require may depend on the stage of your training.
Reasonable and appropriate accommodations and other supports are determined on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the individual's certified disability/specific learning difficulty. It is important that a formal and timely application is made for such supports so that the appropriate supports can be identified and provided where necessary.
For further information on the supports and reasonable accommodations available for students training to become a solicitor at the Law Society are available at Disability Supports & Adapted Arrangements.
Traineeship Section
- Email: TraineeSection@LawSociety.ie
- Postal Address: Traineeship Section, Law School, Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin, D07 VY24.
- DX: 79 Dublin
