| Ques: What is a Certificate of Eligibility? |
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Ans: It is the document in which
the
Solicitors Regulation Authority
(SRA) states which Heads of the QLTT a lawyer must pass before
he/she can apply to be admitted as an English solicitor.
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Ques: How do I apply for a Certificate of Eligibility and when will I
receive it? |
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Ans: Applications for the Certificate of Eligibility are made to the
SRA
. To download the Certificate of Eligibility application form,
visit our website. Please note it can take up to eight weeks for
the
SRA to process your application. |
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Ques: If a newly qualified advocate doesn't have two years
experience can they apply for the Certificate of Eligibility? |
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Ans: Yes, a newly qualified advocate can apply for the Certificate of
Eligibility. If he/she does not have two years practicing experience
as an advocate, the SRA may consider pre enrolment
(enrolment with the State Bar Council) experience as paralegal,
legal clerk, legal executive and issue a Certificate of Eligibility with
the additional condition that the candidate must gain further
experience prior to making an application for admission to the Roll
of Solicitors of England and Wales. To fulfill the additional
requirement of the Certificate of Eligibility, a candidate is required
to work for a specific period (mentioned in the Certificate of
Eligibility) in a Solicitors’ office in England and Wales in the
practice of English Law (subject to the SRA requirements). |
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| Ques: Can a law graduate
enrol as a solicitor of England & Wales? |
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Ans: No, before enrolling as a solicitor of England & Wales he/she
must be enrolled with the local jurisdiction as a lawyer i.e. with
the State Bar Council.
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Ques: How much I have to pay for a Certificate of Eligibility?
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Ans: The application processing fee charged by the
SRA is £400 |
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Ques: Which documents are required to apply for the Certificate of
Eligibility? |
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Ans: The documents required to be submitted to the
SRA while
applying for the Certificate of Eligibility are:
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Completed Application
Form duly signed and sealed.
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Original Certificate(s) of good
standing from the relevant professional body or
home court in all jurisdictions where you have
been admitted as a lawyer.
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Original reference letter from
the Institution where you have completed your
LL.B stating whether your studies were conducted
in English.
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Official translations to be
attached for ALL documents submitted which are
not in English
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A certified copy of your
marriage certificate, or a statutory declaration
if your name is now different from that shown on
your Certificate(s) of Good Standing.
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Original QLTT Experience Evidence form(s) evidencing your experience with attached letter from Supervisor on official letterhead of the firm. This letter must be signed by the supervisor who completed the QLTT Experience Evidence Form and not by the HR department.
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If self employed or practicing
independently for any period and as such have no
supervisor or partner please provide letter(s)
from another professional acquaintance,
colleague or partner who is not a relative of
yours or employed by you.
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Demand Draft in the sum of £400
payable to the Law Society (please refer to page
4 of the guidance notes for accepted modes of
payment).
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| Ques: What happens if the Certificate of Eligibility expires? |
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Ans: You will be required to make a fresh application to the
SRA
for
issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility. Please enquire directly to
The SRA directly for an expert advice via
telephone (+44 (0) 1527 504450) or email
contactcentre@sra.org.uk.
Their telephone lines are open 09.00 to 17.00 Monday to Friday. |
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