Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland solicitor

May 2025

Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland solicitor

Here are the steps you need to take before applying for admission as a solicitor of England Wales.

Please note Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland solicitors do not need to do qualifying work experience or sit the SQE assessments.

However, if you have already attempted and failed any SQE assessment (either/both parts of SQE1 or SQE2), you must retake and pass these to be eligible for admission. We consider this to be clear evidence that you have not met the standard required to practise as a solicitor of England and Wales.

Also, if you do not disclose you have failed an SQE assessment, we will view this as dishonesty. This would impact your suitability to be admitted as a solicitor, and we will take appropriate action.

Create a mySRA account and add your jurisdictions – do this first

• Create a mySRA account. Find out how to create an account.
• Tell us you are a Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland solicitor. You do this in the 'My profile' section under 'Jurisdiction'. Please click 'add jurisdiction', select your professional title, and add the date you qualified.

Background checks and suitability – just before applying for admission

• We check your suitability when you are applying for admission. You can also speak to us early if you have any potential concerns.
• You will need to do a background check/screening. Once complete, you are ready to apply for admission. Find out how to apply for screening.

Applying for admission

• When applying, you will choose 'Solicitors Qualifying Examination route' on the application. Find out more about applying for admission.
• You will be asked to upload a copy of a certificate of good standing from all jurisdictions where you hold a legal professional qualification and have been admitted.
• The certificate(s) must be less than three months old (we recommend that the date of issue is no longer than two months on the date you make your application) and confirm:
  • your date of admission
  • that you are in good standing
  • that you have not been subject to any disciplinary proceedings
  • that there are not any pending disciplinary proceedings against you
  • that you are currently entitled to practise.

Applying for a practising certificate – after choosing your admission date

Once you have chosen your admission date, you can apply for a practising certificate. Find out how to apply.