Opening a Practice
If you wish to open your own practice, ensure that you meet certain requirements of the Law Society as outlined in this section.
Practising Certificate
In order to commence practising on your own behalf you are required to be the holder of a practising certificate.
If you do not currently hold a practising certificate, it is necessary to apply for a practising certificate.
Professional Indemnity Insurance Cover
You are required to obtain professional indemnity insurance cover (PII) from a qualified insurer. For lists of insurers and brokers, along with other information and PII updates, see the Insurance(PII) page.
Forms
- Prior to setting up in practice, it is necessary to complete and return a copy of the Society’s Commencement in Practice form.
- When you open a practice, please ensure your insurer or broker completes and submits this confirmation of cover form.
Accountants’ Report
Please note that in accordance with the provisions of regulation 26 (1) of the Solicitors Accounts Regulations 2023 (S.I 118 of 2023) you are required to ensure that a reporting accountant's report is furnished to the Society not later than five months after your accounting date in each practice year, or within such further period as the Society may in writing permit.
You are required to notify the Society of your date of commencement and the accounting date chosen by you in the attached commencement in practice form. Your accounting date is the last date of your practice's accounting period (the period of one year ending on the accounting date) in each practice year. The accounting date chosen must therefore be within one year of your date of commencement and a reporting accountant's report must be filed with the Society within 6 months of your chosen accounting date annually.
Should you wish to choose an initial accounting date which would extend your accounting period to longer than a period of one year from your date of commencement, you must notify the Society in writing not later than one year after your date of commencement in practice and receive the written consent of the Society to file such an extended reporting accountant's report.
Any such requests, or any queries relating to reporting accountant's reports should be directed to Kara Groarke.
Private practice information
Contact Us
If you have any queries with regard to opening a practice, please email firms@lawsociety.ie.
