Financial benefits

The society operates a range of schemes to assist solicitors with their financial obligations.

Access information on key schemes using the links below.

Retirement Trust Scheme

The Law Society Retirement Trust Scheme has been helping Law Society members to save for retirement in a flexible and tax-efficient way since 1975.

The scheme is open to all members under age 75 who are either self-employed or in non-pensionable employment. You can make regular or once-off payments, and you have the flexibility to start, stop or resume saving at any time

The scheme is run specifically for Law Society members. Charges are transparent, and low compared to most individual pension arrangements.

  • No charges are deducted as contributions go in.

  • There is an annual management charge which varies depending on the fund you choose – The annual management charges range from 0.14% to 0.92%.

  • There are no flat policy fees, commissions or exit charges, as frequently occur in individual pension contracts.

Governance of the scheme is strong. A professional trustee company (Irish Pensions Trust Limited) governs the scheme and has the power to make changes to the Scheme. A committee of Law Society members (the Solicitors Retirement Fund Committee) oversees the Scheme and the trustee company. By contrast, if a member decides to invest monies in their own individual pension through a contract with a pension provider, there is no independent oversight or review of the pension arrangement unless the member pays an advisor to provide this.

Booklet and forms - Retirement Trust Scheme

You can find out more about the benefits of joining the scheme by accessing the Member Booklet.

Other useful forms can be downloaded below:

Contact Mercer

For further details including how to speak with one of our advisors, or how to join the Scheme please contact the JustASK helpline by telephone on 01 411 8505 or at www.JustASKmercer.com

 

Group Life Assurance

In 2024/2025 the Law Society will continue to offer a Group Life Assurance Scheme. The Scheme remains with Aviva and the following conditions apply:

  • The scheme provides cover of €78,000.

  • Cover is only operative where the insured is under 70 years of age at the date of death.

  • The scheme allows for ‘days of grace’ between 1 January and 1 February 2025 for those covered by the scheme on 31 December 2024, that is, during the Practising Certificate renewal period.

  • Any pay-out under the scheme forms an asset in the deceased's estate.

Group Life Assurance for Practising Certificate holders

Membership of the group life assurance scheme is provided as part of a practising certificate and the annual scheme premium of €64 is included in the practising certificate fee for 2025.

Group Life Assurance for those without a Practising Certificate

If you are a solicitor in full-time service of the State, a Judge or county register and are under 70 years of age, you can apply to join the scheme as per the following payment option and conditions:

  1. Fill in an assessment form and Health Declaration form – to obtain a copy of these forms contact lawsociety@glennons.ie and return the forms directly to grouprenewals@aviva.com
  2. Ensure that your Law Society membership is current –check or renew membership online
  3. Pay the premium of €64 by the 1 February 2024 – to arrange payment of the premium contact pc@lawsociety.ie

If you obtained group life assurance in the previous practice year and you wish to renew in the current year you can obtain assurance membership alongside your yearly Law Society membership before the 1 February 2025.

If you are not a current member of the scheme; and did not hold membership of the scheme in the last practice year you are considered a new member seeking to join the scheme.

Any solicitor who does not hold a practising certificate or is not in full-time service of the State, or not a judge or county registrar is not eligible to join the scheme.

When are Health Declaration Forms necessary?

The requirement to fill in a health declaration form is only required in the year of first membership - once you a member of the Scheme, you can then renew your membership by 1 February of each year.

Once you have completed the Health Declaration form and assessment and provided it to Aviva it will be reviewed by their team and Aviva will contact you directly to confirm if you are eligible for the Scheme. If Aviva confirm you are not eligible to join the scheme the Law Society will reimburse any premiums paid.

Further information

If you have a query about a practising certificate or membership application, please email pc@lawsociety.ie.

Claims should be notified to lawsociety@glennons.ie.