The society operates a range of schemes to assist solicitors with their financial obligations.
Access information on key schemes using the links below.
Retirement Trust Scheme
The Law Society Retirement Trust Scheme has been helping Law Society members to save for retirement in a flexible and tax-efficient way since 1975.
The scheme is open to all members under age 75 who are either self-employed or in non-pensionable employment. You can make regular or once-off payments, and you have the flexibility to start, stop or resume saving at any time
The scheme is run specifically for Law Society members. Charges are transparent, and low compared to most individual pension arrangements.
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No charges are deducted as contributions go in.
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There is an annual management charge which varies depending on the fund you choose – the maximum charge for any fund currently available is 1%.
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There are no flat policy fees, commissions or exit charges, as frequently occur in individual pension contracts.
Governance of the scheme is strong. A professional trustee company (Irish Pensions Trust Limited) governs the scheme and has the power to make changes to the Scheme. A committee of Law Society members (the Solicitors Retirement Fund Committee) oversees the Scheme and the trustee company. By contrast, if a member decides to invest monies in their own individual pension through a contract with a pension provider, there is no independent oversight or review of the pension arrangement unless the member pays an advisor to provide this.
The scheme is administered by Mercer. In a new initiative, it is planned that contributing members over 50 will be invited to meet individually with a Mercer Pension Advisor, free of charge, over the next number of years.
Booklet and forms - Retirement Trust Scheme
You can find out more about the benefits of joining the scheme by accessing the Member Booklet.
Other useful forms can be downloaded below:
Contact Mercer
For further details, or to find out how to join please contact the JustASK helpline. Telephone 01 411 8505 or email justask@mercer.com.
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Group Life Assurance
In 2024, the Law Society will continue to offer a Group Life Assurance Scheme. The Scheme has been placed with Aviva and the following conditions apply:
The Scheme has been placed with Aviva and the following conditions apply:
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The scheme provides cover of €62,500.
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Cover is only operative where the insured is under 70 years of age at the date of death.
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The scheme allows for ‘days of grace’ between 1 January and 1 February 2024 for those covered by the scheme on 31 December 2023, that is, during the Practising Certificate renewal period.
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Any pay-out under the scheme forms an asset in the deceased's estate.
Group Life Assurance for Practising Certificate holders
Membership of the group life assurance scheme is provided as part of a practising certificate and the annual scheme premium of €64 is included in the practising certificate fee for 2024.
Group Life Assurance for those without a Practising Certificate
If you are a solicitor in full-time service of the State and are under 70 years of age, you can apply to join the scheme. Judges and county registrars may also apply to join the scheme as per the payment option and conditions outlined below.
If you obtained group life assurance in the previous practice year and you wish to renew in the current year you can obtain assurance membership alongside your yearly Law Society membership before the first week of February 2024.
Group Life Assurance for those without a Practising Certificate
If you are a solicitor in full-time service of the State, a Judge or county register and are under 70 years of age, you can apply to join the scheme as per the following payment option and conditions:
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Fill in an assessment form and Health Declaration form – to obtain a copy of these forms contact the grouplifescheme@lawsociety.ie and return the forms directly to grouprenewals@aviva.com
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Ensure that your Law Society membership is current – check or renew membership online
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Pay the premium of €64 by the first week of February 2024 – to arrange payment of the premium contact pc@lawsociety.ie
If you obtained group life assurance in the previous practice year and you wish to renew in the current year you can obtain assurance membership alongside your yearly Law Society membership before the first week of February 2024.
If you are not a current member of the scheme; and did not hold membership of the scheme in the last practice year you are considered a new member seeking to join the scheme.
Any solicitor who does not hold a practising certificate or is not in full-time service of the State, or not a judge or county registrar is not eligible to join the scheme.
When are Health Declaration Forms necessary?
The requirement to fill in a health declaration form is only required in the year of first membership - once you a member of the Scheme, you can then renew your membership before 1 February of each year.
Once you have completed the Health Declaration form and assessment and provided it to Aviva it will be reviewed by their team and Aviva will contact you directly to confirm if you are eligible for the Scheme. If Aviva confirm you are not eligible to join the scheme the Law Society will reimburse any premiums paid.
Further information
If you have a query about a practising certificate or membership application, please email pc@lawsociety.ie.
Claims should be notified to grouplifescheme@lawsociety.ie.
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