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Solicitor

Regulators
  • Law Society of Northern Ireland
Nations
  • Northern Ireland
Sectors
  • Law

Regulatory or professional bodies

Primary regulator

Regulatory authority
Law Society of Northern Ireland
Address

96 Victoria Street
Belfast
BT1 3GN

Email address
info@lawsoc-ni.org
Phone number
+44 (0)2890 231 614

Regulation

Regulation summary

The Law Society of Northern Ireland is the professional body for the Solicitors profession in Northern Ireland with the aim of protecting the public. Under the Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976, the Law Society acts as the regulatory authority governing the education, accounts, discipline and professional conduct of solicitors in order to maintain the independence, ethical standards, professional competence and quality of services offered to the public.

Regulation type

Licence

Reserved activities

Only individuals who hold a valid Northern Ireland Practising certificate may exercise reserved activities in Northern Ireland. The provisions of the Solicitors’ (NI) Order 1976 do not limit the giving of legal advice to a Solicitor holding an NI Practising Certificate. However, Articles 19, 23 and 24 of that Order respectively limit the issue and defence of criminal and civil proceedings; the conveyancing process; and the extract of Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration Intestate to Solicitors holding Practising Certificates – these are the “reserved services”

More about regulated activities and titles
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1976/582

Qualifications and experience

New professionals

Routes to qualification

The Law Society of Northern Ireland, as the governing body of the solicitors' profession in Northern Ireland, has in exercise of its statutory powers, prescribed the legal education and training necessary to qualify as a solicitor in Northern Ireland.

Reg. 8(1) of the Solicitors Admission and Training Regulations 1988 (as amended), referred to as the "Law Degree Route", is the standard education route in Northern Ireland for admission to the Roll of Solicitors.

Each trainee solicitor registers with the Law Society of Northern Ireland and their traineeship is regulated by the Society. It involves formal instruction in legal subjects and relevant skills at the Institute and in-office training in the actual work and practice of a solicitor.

The traineeship commences with a period of in-office training and it is a requirement of registration that they shall have entered into Indentures with a Master who is approved by the Society and who will be available to supervise their training.

Not all solicitors can be Masters. The requirements of the Law Society in this regard are contained in the Solicitors Admission and Training (Qualifications of Masters) Regulations 1988 (as amended).

Upon completion of the two-year traineeship, after successfully passing the Postgraduate Diploma at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies and all relevant Law Society modules the trainee solicitor is eligible to apply for admission to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland.

Professionals from other UK nations

Routes to recognition within the UK

Under reciprocal arrangements, the Law Society of Northern Ireland will accept applications from English or Welsh solicitors seeking direct admission to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland.

If England and Wales is the solicitor's first place of admission then the Law Society of Northern Ireland will consider the solicitor for direct admission to the Roll.

Each application is considered separately and direct admission is not guaranteed, for example should other factors highlighted upon application be contrary to procedure.

The Law Society of Northern Ireland does not hold a reciprocal arrangement with the jurisdiction of Scotland - as such applications from Scottish solicitors will not be considered for direct admission to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland.

Professionals from outside the UK

Recognition for professionals outside the UK
Some - qualifications from some countries may be recognised, but professionals from other countries will have to re-qualify
Summary of routes

Under reciprocal arrangements, the Law Society of Northern Ireland will accept applications from solicitors admitted in the Republic of Ireland who are seeking direct admission to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland.

If the Republic of Ireland is the solicitor's first place of admission then the Law Society of Northern Ireland will consider the solicitor for direct admission to the Roll.

Each application is considered separately and direct admission is not guaranteed, for example should other factors highlighted upon application be contrary to procedure.

The Law Society of Northern Ireland does not hold a reciprocal arrangement with any further jurisdiction outside of the UK. Those solicitors or lawyers admitted within an overseas jurisdiction must apply to the Law Society of Northern Ireland to register as a student and complete any outstanding core subjects not covered in their degree, a one-year course at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS), all requisite Law Society modules and a one-year apprenticeship within a suitable firm or organisation in Northern Ireland. Upon successful completion of these requirements and payment of all fees, the non-UK solicitor/lawyer may apply for admission to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland.

More about recognition for professionals outside the UK
https://www.lawsoc-ni.org/transferring-from-another-jurisdiction

Registration

Registration requirements

Upon admission to the solicitor profession in Northern Ireland, via the Roll of Solicitors, professionals should apply for a Practicing Certificate (PC) should they wish to undertake reserved activities within the jurisdiction of Northern Ireland.


Legislation

Title of relevant act or charter

Solicitors (NI) Order 1976

Website link to legislation
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1976/582

Licence Finder

You may need licences and permits to carry out certain activities in the UK. These are called authorisations. Use the licence finder to find what you need.