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Fees for the 2009/2010 practising year

Introduction

The standard practising certificate fee is £1,180, plus the Compensation Fund contribution. If your earnings were less than £20,000, you may qualify for a low income fee reduction. You may also qualify for a maternity leave fee reduction.

There are a variety of ways to pay.

Fees for solicitors, RELs and RFLs*

* RFLs the fees schedule below applies to RFLs who mainly practise inside England and Wales.


 Issue date of PC/registration
Category of solicitor/REL/RFL 1/11/09-
31/12/09		 1/01/10-
31/03/10		 1/04/10-
30/06/10		 1/07/10-
31/10/10
All solicitors/RELs/RFLs other than those in the following categories. £1,180 £885 £590 £295
Solicitors/RELs/RFLs applying for their first practising certificate/registration. £885 £885 £590 £295
Solicitors/RELs/RFLs whose gross fees or income have not exceeded £20,000 in the 12 months prior to date of applying for their practising certificate/registration. £590 £445 £295 £150
Solicitors/RELs/RFLs who have previously held a practising certificate/registration but have not practised during the 12-month period immediately preceding the start date of their new practising certificate/registration. N/A £885 £590 £295
Solicitors/RELs who work in the Crown Prosecution Service (except when eligible to pay low income fee or maternity fees). £785 £585 £390 £195
Solicitors/RELs/RFLs who are taking maternity leave at the time of renewing their practising certificate/registration for the full year 1/11/09 - 31/10/10, or were on maternity leave between 1/11/08 - 31/10/09. £590 N/A N/A N/A

If at any time during the 12-month period you were practising both as a solicitor/REL/RFL and as a lawyer of another jurisdiction, all fees or income received as a lawyer must be taken into account. If the total of the gross fees or gross income exceeds £20,000 you do not qualify for a reduced PC fee.

Schedule of fees for RFLs

For RFLs who mainly practise inside England and Wales, see previous table.

For RFLs who mainly practise outside England and Wales:

  • the renewal fee is £100,
  • the initial registration fee is £100.

Compensation Fund contribution

Most solicitors, RELs and RFLs are required to contribute to the Compensation Fund.

The contribution depends on

  • the number of practising certificates/registrations held previously (including this one you are applying for) not your date of admission or registration
  • whether you held or received client money in the last practising year (1 November 2008 to 31 October 2009 for applications for the 2009/10 year)
  • in some cases, whether your firm held or received client money (see rules 2 and 13 of the Solicitors' Accounts Rules for definitions).

Solicitors/RELs working for the Crown Prosecution Service are exempt from the Compensation Fund contribution.

Number of previous practising certificates held

The example below is for solicitors, RELs and RFLs admitted on 1 August 2007.

Dates of certificates Number of PCs/registrations
1 August 2007 – 31 October 2007 1
1 November 2007 – 31 October 2008 2
1 November 2008 – 31 October 2009 3
1 November 2009 – This is the start of their fourth practising year

2009/2010 Compensation Fund contribution for solicitors, RELs, and RFLs

Compensation Fund fee when client money is held
Number of certificates or registrations held Solicitors and RELs RFLs (who mainly practise inside E&W) RFLs (who mainly practise outside E&W)
1 to 3 £0 £0 £25
4 to 6 £195 £195 £25
7 or more £390 £390 £25
Compensation Fund fee when client money is not held
Number of certificates or registrations held Solicitors and RELs RFLs (who mainly practise inside E&W) RFLs (who mainly practise outside E&W)
1 to 3 £0 £0 £25
4 to 6 £65 £65 £25
7 or more £130 £130 £25

Low income fee reduction

The low income fee reduction applies if your gross fees or gross income from the provision of legal services as a practising solicitor was £20,000 or less during the 12 months prior to the date you want your new practising certificate to start.

  • If you practised both as a solicitor, REL or RFL and as a lawyer in another jurisdiction, your combined income must be less than £20,000 to qualify.
  • If your employment changed during the twelve month period so that you were only practising as a solicitor for part of that time, and your income for that time was less than £20,000, you qualify for the reduction.
  • If you were employed in commerce, industry, the public service or the voluntary sector and part of your responsibilities involved work as a solicitor and part did not, the whole of the income from that employment should be taken into account.

Maternity leave fee reduction

If you were on statutory maternity leave (or equivalent) between 1 November 2008 and 31 October 2009, you are entitled to a reduced fee for the next full practising year (2009/10).