Certificate of Eligibility

If you are a lawyer qualified in one of the following jurisdictions, you may take the Qualified Lawyers' Transfer Test (QLTT) in order to become a solicitor in Ireland but first you must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility to take the QLTT.

  • an EU Member State
  • an EFTA Member State
  • New York (with one year post qualification experience ‘PQE’ in New York)
  • California
  • Pennsylvania (with five years ‘PQE’ in Pennsylvania)
  • New South Wales (and other Australian States – provided you are eligible to practice in New South Wales).
  • New Zealand
  • Scotland (as a solicitor)

Once granted a Certificate of Eligibility is valid for three years from the date of issue. It is possible to renew.

An application for a Certificate of Eligibility should be made to the Admissions Officer.

The application must be in hard copy. The Law Society does not accept, confirm or authorise scanned documents sent by email. You must submit the following documents:

  1. Completed application form - download the application form here.
  2. Your sworn Affidavit of Solvency - see the application form.
  3. A certified copy* of your original certificate(s) evidencing your higher education academic qualification(s).
  4. A certified copy* of your original Admission Certificate from all jurisdictions in which you have been admitted.
  5. An original Certificate of Good Standing from your professional body in each jurisdiction in which you have been admitted. Each must be dated no more than three months prior to your application.
  6. Original references from three referees. See below for specific criteria for these references and referees.
  7. An official translation** into English of each document that is in a language other than English.
  8. Photographic I.D. (e.g. certified copy of passport)
  9. Fee of €550 to be paid 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

An application for exemption from subject papers can be made at the same time as your application for a Certificate of Eligibility. However, your application for exemption will not be assessed until after your Certificate of Eligibility is approved. Exemption applications are considered by the Education Committee.  For further information see below.

Your application for a Certificate of Eligibility must be submitted by post to:
Roll of Solicitors Office,
Administrator for Foreign Qualified Lawyers,
Education Dept,
Law Society of Ireland,
Blackhall Place,
Dublin 7.

Applications by email are not accepted.

If the application is in order, the Certificate of Eligibility usually issues within 6 weeks from receipt of the application.

*Copies may be certified by a practising lawyer, Embassy, Consulate or High Commissioner (Commissioner for Oaths) in the jurisdiction where you are admitted as a lawyer or in Ireland. These must be in the English language.

** All documents to be translated must first be certified by a Solicitor/Notary that they are true copies of the original documents placed before the Solicitor/Notary. Translations must carried out by an official translator whose name, address and contact details should be clearly stamped or noted on each of the translated documents to be submitted.

NB. A certified copy of the Original Certificate of Good Standing which has been subsequently translated should be submitted together with the Original Certificate of Good Standing.

As part of your application for Certificate of Eligibility, you must provide original references from three separate referees. They must meet the following criteria:

  1. Two of the required references must be from practising solicitors/lawyers of at least five years standing, who have known you for two years. The referees must practice in the jurisdiction where you are qualified/admitted as a lawyer or in Ireland. Referees must confirm the above facts in their reference.
  2. ONLY ONE reference is permitted from work/current employers i.e. the person to whom you report, a Director, a Partner or H.R. Manager. Additional references from colleagues or other personnel from your workplace are not acceptable.
  3. Your current employer is not required to have known you for two years. If you are not in employment, a reference from a person of good standing (a barrister/lawyer, a member of judiciary, a doctor, a company director or other professional) who has known you for two years, may be provided. The referee must reside in the jurisdiction where you are qualified/admitted as a lawyer or in Ireland. These facts must be reflected on the reference.
  4. All references must be on the headed paper of the referee. Their name, address and
    contact details should appear on the reference and should be clear and legible.
  5. Referees must not be members of your family.
  6. Tutors/lecturers who have taught you on preparatory courses will not be accepted as referees.

The QLTT comprises exams in the following subjects:

  • Constitutional Law & Company Law or Criminal Law
  • The Law of Contract & The Law of Tort
  • The Law of the European Union
  • Land Law & Conveyancing
  • Probate & Taxation
  • Professional Conduct (oral examination by Zoom)
  • Solicitors' Accounts

It is not possible to obtain an exemption from the Professional Conduct and Solicitors’ Accounts exams.

If you are qualified as a lawyer in an EU Member State, you are automatically exempt from the The Law of the European Union paper.

You can apply for exemption from individual subjects with the exception of Land Law & Conveyancing which are integrated subjects.

You are required to take either: Constitutional Law and Criminal Law OR Constitutional Law and Company Law. If you are granted an exemption from either Company Law or Criminal Law – you are required to sit Constitutional Law only. Conversely, if you are granted an exemption from Constitutional Law, you are required to sit either Company Law OR Criminal Law.

An application for exemption from subject papers can be made at the same time as your application for a Certificate of Eligibility.Hhowever, your application for exemption will not be assessed until after your Certificate of Eligibility is approved. Exemption applications are considered by the Education Committee.  It is a separate application and incurs a fee of €115.

Items required in support of the exemption application:

  1. A letter of application setting out the exemptions you are seeking.
  2. References from employer(s) or former employer(s) which confirm your post-qualification experience.
    • The referees should make reference to the nature of your post-qualification experience, its duration and the jurisdiction in which the post-qualification experience was obtained.
    • References provided must be from a Partner, Principal, Company Director, Human Resource Manager or a person to whom you report in the course of your employment. References from colleagues are not acceptable.
    • References from employers or former employers are required to be on the company’s headed paper.
    • The referees’ contact details should also be clear and legible.
  3. Any additional documents you believe support your application for exemption(s).
  4. The fee of €115 per application made to the Education Committee. You can apply for multiple subjects in a single application. Fees are to be paid 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

Certificate of Eligibility / QLTT Subject Exemption Applications

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