Dear Colleague,

The Practising Certificate (PC) renewal process has now begun. To assist members with the online renewal, the Law Society has provided a video tutorial along with dedicated email and telephone facilities. The deadline for submission of your Practising Certificate application, together with full payment of fees, is Wednesday 1 February 2023.

• Begin your PC application

PC fee 2023

The PC fee enables the Law Society to provide a wide range of services to our members and to discharge our statutory responsibilities. In setting the Law Society budget for 2023, the Finance Committee’s objective has been to avoid exceeding the fee for 2020. The LSRA levy (which pays for the contributions due under statute to the LSRA for each solicitor) has gone up by €33 and the proposed voluntary contributions have increased by €30. However, despite considerable inflation, costs have been curtailed so that the Registration Fee and Compensation fund combined are less that the equivalents in 2020.

The total PC fee approved by Council for 2023, including voluntary contributions, is €2700.

Membership of the Society

Almost all firms take out membership of the Law Society for their solicitors and I encourage you to continue to do so.

The benefits of membership are detailed on the Law Society website. Membership entitles you to a wide range of exclusive services, including access to the Gazette, the Law Directory, our Library services, and our confidential LegalMind mental health service. Other member benefits include access to the practising member logo, and a chance to have your say in matters affecting the profession through the AGM and Council Election.

Solicitors who are admitted and enrolled for over 50 years are entitled to free membership. If you are eligible, this reduction of €85 is automatically reflected in your Practising Certificate fee.

Practising Certificate Finance Scheme

If your firm wishes to fund the cost of Practising Certificates over 11 months, it can do so by availing of the very competitive finance scheme provided by Bank of Ireland. 

• See details of the Finance Scheme

Life Assurance Scheme

Each Practising Certificate provides life assurance cover of €62,500 for solicitors under the age of 70. This scheme has benefited the families of a great number of solicitors over many years. If you are not eligible for the scheme, a reduction of €64 is automatically reflected in your Practising Certificate fee.

Solicitors in the full-time service of the State who wish to avail of this life assurance cover must take out membership of the Society and also pay the premium of €64 during the month of January 2023. If you apply after January 2023, you must complete an underwriter’s health declaration. 

• See further information on the Group Life Scheme

Voluntary Contributions

Your Practising Certificate application provides an opportunity to make voluntary contributions to the Solicitors Benevolent Association, FLAC and Community Law Centres. The Solicitors Benevolent Association supports colleagues and their families who have fallen on hard times and need support. FLAC and Community Law Centres continue to provide valuable legal support to their communities. Additionally, the form provides for a voluntary contribution to assist Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI), which was introduced in 2022.

I encourage you to support all of these worthy causes.

2023 

On behalf of the Council and everyone at the Law Society, I hope you enjoy a safe and peaceful Christmas and enjoy a well-earned break.

Kind regards,

Maura Derivan,

President