Eligibility requirements

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You are reading current version in effect from 12 June 2024

Guidance

Guidance

When do I need a practising certificate? - Guidance

Guidance: To help you understand the circumstances in which you must have a practising certificate.

Glossary terms

SRA

means the Solicitors Regulation Authority

register of European lawyers

means the register of European lawyers maintained by the SRA under regulation 15 of the European Communities (Lawyer's Practice) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000/1119)

register of foreign lawyers

means the register of foreign lawyers maintained by the SRA under section 89 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990

solicitor

means a person who has been admitted as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and whose name is on the roll.

register

includes:

  1. the roll and the register of solicitors with practising certificates kept under Part I of the SA,
  2. the register of European lawyers;
  3. the register of foreign lawyers; and
  4. the register of authorised bodies kept under the AJA and the LSA
Tribunal

means the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal which is an independent statutory tribunal constituted under section 46 of the SA

character and suitability

includes fitness and propriety under rule 13.1 of the SRA Authorisation of Firms Rules

REL

means a European lawyer registered in the register of European lawyers

foreign lawyer

has the meaning given in section 89(9) of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990

manager

means:

  1. the sole principal in a recognised sole practice;
  2. a member of a LLP;
  3. a director of a company;
  4. a partner in a partnership; or
  5. in relation to any other body, a member of its governing body
recognised body

means a body recognised by the SRA under section 9 of the AJA

RFL

means a foreign lawyer registered in the register of foreign lawyers