Transferring from another Jurisdiction
Applying for Admission to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland for Solicitors already admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in either England and Wales or the Republic of Ireland.
Applicants should allow a minimum of three months for the application process to be completed.
The application procedure for admitting a solicitor to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland, who has already been admitted onto the Roll of Solicitors in the England and Wales/ Republic of Ireland, is as follows:
- The intending applicant has to complete an application form. The application contains a number of declarations which the applicant has to make regarding criminal convictions, insolvency and professional misconduct.
- A number of documents have to be submitted. These are listed below.They are also listed on the form.
a) a Certificate of Good Standing from the applicant's Law Society/SRA which states that the applicant is a fit and proper person to practice as a solicitor in Northern Ireland;
b) a certified copy of the applicant's original Admission Certificate to the Roll of Solicitors in England and Wales/ Republic of Ireland
c) a brief description of the applicant's experience since admission
d) two character references, the referees must be solicitors or 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.
- A cheque for £150 being a registration fee and an admission fee.
Once an applicant has been admitted to the Roll s/he may apply for a Practising Certificate.
Please note: all newly admitted solicitors are subject to three year's restriction from practice on their own account ie as principals or sole practitioners. In certain circumstances the Society may grant a waiver of this restriction.
Applying for Admission to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland for persons who have been admitted as a solicitor in Scotland
Applicants should allow a minimum of three months for the application process to be completed.
The application procedure for admitting a solicitor to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland, who has already been admitted as a solicitor in Scotland is as follows:
- The intending applicant has to complete an application form. The application contains a number of declarations which the applicant has to make regarding criminal convictions, insolvency and professional misconduct.
- A number of documents have to be submitted. These are listed below. They are also listed on the form.
a) a Certificate of Good Standing from the applicant's Law Society/SRA which states that the applicant is a fit and proper person to practice as a solicitor in Northern Ireland;
b) a certified copy of the applicant's original Admission Certificate to the Roll of Solicitors in Scotland
c) a description of the applicant's experience since admission
d) two character references, the referees must be solicitors or 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.
- A cheque for £150 being a registration fee and an admission fee.
- The application is then submitted to the Education Committee for consideration. Applicants are usually required to attend and pass courses in Conveyancing and Administration of Estates at either of the vocational training providers either the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (Belfast) or the Graduate School of Professional Legal Education (Londonderry) and to undergo a period of apprenticeship.
