RF1 notes – Part I

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I. Reduced fees

Reduced practising certificate fees for solicitors

Include details of any solicitors who are eligible for reduced practising certificate fees. Any reduction in fees only applies to the practising certificate fee. The compensation fund contribution remains unchanged.

Reduced fees are available to solicitors in the categories listed below.

Category A: Solicitors in the Crown Prosecution Service
Category B: Any solicitor who has previously held a practising certificate and whose gross fees or gross income from the provision of legal services has not exceeded £20,000 during the 12-month period prior to the date of this application.
Category C: Any solicitor applying for their first practising certificate to start on or after 1 November 2008 (If you are a solicitor admitted at any time between 1 November 2007 and 31 October 2008 and are employed in private practice in the provision of legal services before 1 November 2008, you are required to hold a practising certificate for the practising year ending 31 October 2008.)
Category D: Any solicitor who is on statutory maternity leave or a period of leave equivalent to statutory maternity leave at the time of applying for renewal of their practising certificate.
Category E: Any solicitor whose maternity leave or period of leave equivalent to statutory maternity leave started and ended within the practising certificate year 1 November 2007 to 31 October 2008.

Practising as a solicitor includes the provision of legal services under, or in reliance upon, the title "solicitor" whether as a principal, under a contract of employment or under a contract for the provision of services.

A "period of leave equivalent to statutory maternity leave" is a period of absence or leave which, if the solicitor had been an employee, would have been taken as statutory maternity leave.

If at any time during the 12-month period you were practising both as a solicitor and as a lawyer of another jurisdiction, all your 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 practising certificate fee.

For the fees payable by solicitors eligible for a reduced practising certificate fee, see our fee table.

Reduced registration fees for RELs

This section should include details of any RELs who are eligible for reduced registration fees. Any reduction in fees only applies to the registration fee. The compensation fund contribution remains unchanged.

Reduced fees are available to RELs in the categories listed below.

Category F: RELs in the Crown Prosecution Service
Category G: Any REL whose gross fees or gross income from the provision of legal services has not exceeded £20,000 during the last 12-month period prior to the date of this application.
Category H: Any REL who is on statutory maternity leave or a period of leave equivalent to statutory maternity leave at the time of applying for registration.
Category I: Any REL whose maternity leave or period of leave equivalent to statutory maternity leave started and ended within the practising year 1 November 2007 to 31 October 2008.

A "period of leave equivalent to statutory maternity leave" is a period of absence or leave which, if the REL had been an employee, would have been taken as statutory maternity leave.

If at any time during the 12-month period you were practising both as a REL and as a lawyer of another jurisdiction, all your 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 registration fee.