The number of Britain-based lawyers seeking to retain their EU practising rights by requalifying in Ireland escalated after the UK voted to Brexit in 2016. About 4,000 solicitors took the plunge.
However, the Law Society of Ireland said this week that it had reviewed its position, concluding: ‘A practising certificate only entitles a solicitor to practise in Ireland from an establishment in Ireland. The review also confirmed that a practising certificate can only be issued to a solicitor on that basis.’
Law Society president David Greene said: ‘We will have to consider the changes in depth but for some time practitioners have been seeking certainty from the Law Society of Ireland on the rights attached to their practising certificate for solicitors based outside of Ireland, and more specifically in England and Wales.
‘The Law Society of Ireland has for years issued practising certificates to the many Irish solicitors based in England and Wales, whether their first qualification is the Republic of Ireland or whether they are UK lawyers who have requalified in Ireland.
‘It would also appear that any other EU qualified lawyers based in England and Wales will be able to continue practising in their home state law including EU law, but the position for Irish solicitors has become less clear.’
Greene also expressed disappointment at learning of the development through a release on Law Society of Ireland’s website. He said: ‘We would have expected to learn of any proposed changes in advance and formally.’
