A practising certificate must be applied for before 1 February in each practice year in order to be dated 1 January of that year and thereby operate as a qualification to practise from the commencement of the practice year.

It is misconduct for a solicitor to practise without a practising certificate. Any solicitor found to be practising without a practising certificate will be referred to the Disciplinary Tribunal.

Assistant solicitors should note that it is the statutory obligation of every solicitor to ensure that he or she has a practising certificate in force from the commencement of the practice year. Assistant solicitors cannot absolve themselves from this responsibility by relying on their employers to procure their practising certificates.

Practitioners should also note that practising for any period of time without a practising certificate could jeopardise their professional indemnity insurance situation. Furthermore, a break in continuity of practising certificates may disqualify a solicitor from applying for judicial appointment.