The Law Society will continue to offer a group life-assurance scheme in 2024.

Membership of the scheme is provided as part of a practising certificate (PC), and the annual scheme premium of €64 is included in the PC fee for 2024.

The scheme has been placed with Aviva, and the following conditions apply:

• The scheme provides cover of €62,500,
• Cover is only operative where the insured is under 70 years of age at the date of death,
• The scheme allows for ‘days of grace’ between 1 January and 1 February 2024 (the PC renewal period) for those covered by the scheme on 31 December 2023,
• Any pay-out under the scheme forms an asset in the deceased's estate.

Non-PC holders

If you are a solicitor in the 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.

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. To join the scheme as a non-PC holder the following is required:

• 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,
• Law Society membership (€85/€55) – to arrange membership-fee payment contact pc@lawsociety.ie,
• Payment of the premium of €64 by the first week of February 2024 – to arrange payment of the premium, contact pc@lawsociety.ie.

Health-declaration forms

The requirement to fill in a health-declaration form is required only in the first year of 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 its team, and Aviva will contact you directly to confirm if you are eligible. If Aviva confirms that you are not eligible to join the scheme, the Law Society will reimburse any premiums paid.

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.