S.I. No. 401/1996 - Solicitors (Practising Certificate 1997) Regulations, 1996.

1. This form of application must be completed by a solicitor engaged (or intending to engage during the practice year commencing 1st January 1997) 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 1996 the practice year coincides with the calendar year. A Practising Certificate must be applied for before 1st February 1997 in order to be dated 1st January 1997 and thereby to operate as a qualification to practise from the commencement of the practice year 1997. During April 1997, a listing of solicitors holding Practising Certificates as at 31st March 1997 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 1997, 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 1997— £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.

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:—