S.I. No. 349/1995 - Solicitors (Practising Certificates 1996) Regulations, 1995.

1. This form of application must be completed by a solicitor engaged (or intending to engage during the practice year commencing 1st January, 1996) in the provision of legal services whether as a sole practitioner or as a partner in a solicitor's practice or as an employee of any solicitor or of any other person or body,

including

a solicitor who does not require a Practising Certificate by reason of being a solicitor in the full-time service of the State [

within the meaning of section 54

(

as substituted by section 62 of the

Solicitors (Amendment] Act, 1994

) of the

Solicitors Act, 1954

], or of being a solicitor employed full-time in the State to provide conveyancing services only to and for his/her non-solicitor employer [

section 56

,

Solicitors (Amendment) Act, 1994

].

2. The Registration Fee and the Compensation Fund Contribution is payable by each applicant for a Practising Certificate.

3. As and from 1st January, 1966, the practice year will coincide with the calendar year. A Practising Certificate must be applied for before 1st February, 1996 in order to be dated 1st January, 1996 and thereby to operate as a qualification to practise from the commencement of the practice year 1996. During April, 1996, a listing of solicitors holding Practising Certificates as at 31st March, 1996 will be forwarded to each Bar Association, County Registrar, District Court Clerk and Taxing Master.

4. A solicitor admitted during the practice year commencing 1st January, 1996, if applying for his/her first Practising Certificate during that practice year, may calculate the Registration Fee and the Compensation Fund Contribution payable by him/her on the basis of the number of full calendar months remaining in that practice year following the month of his/her admission.

5. The Society's Membership Subscription and the Solicitors' Benevolent Association Contribution are each

optional

. It should be noted, however, that membership of the Society is a prerequisite to obtaining Professional Indemnity cover through the Solicitors' Mutual Defence Fund.

6. The following concessionary rates apply to the Society's Membership Subscription

(

a

) A solicitor admitted for 40 years or more as at 1st January, 1996— 25.00;

(

b

) A solicitor for the year (or part thereof) of his/her admission — 1.00.

7. A Lawyer's International Professional Identity Card is available to a member of the Society who holds a current Practising Certificate, on receipt by the Registrar of Solicitors of a completed form of application (obtainable on request from the Society) together with a fee of 10.00.

S.I. No. 349 of 1995.

SOLICITORS (PRACTISING CERTIFICATES 1996) REGULATIONS, 1995.

The Law Society of Ireland, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by Section 47 (as substituted by

Section 54

of the

Solicitors (Amendment) Act, 1994

) of the

Solicitors Act, 1954

hereby make the following Regulations