Your practising certificate
Solicitors practising in NSW must hold an Australian practising certificate issued by either the Law Society’s Council or another regulatory body. Here’s what you need to know.
Practice Structures
Solicitors in NSW work in a variety of structures and these include government departments, community legal services and large corporations.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
The Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) requires solicitors to hold or be covered by an approved insurance policy for NSW before they engage in legal practice in NSW.
Supervised Legal Practice
Supervised Legal Practice is a requirement for practitioners as governed by the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW).
Remote supervision
Guidelines for completing supervised legal practice.
Continuing Professional Development
Practising Certificate holders must comply with the Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules 2015 and complete ten CPD units each year.
Professional Standards Scheme
The Law Society of New South Wales has continuously administered Schemes as an exclusive benefit for its Members in private practice since 1996.
Becoming a solicitor
in NSW
To be entitled to engage in legal practice in NSW you must:
- be admitted as a lawyer to the Australian legal profession; and
- hold a current Australian practising certificate
Applicants for admission as a lawyer in NSW must direct their application for a compliance certificate to the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB).
A detailed Guide for Applicants for Admission as a Lawyer in NSW is available on the LPAB website.
Following admission to the Supreme Court of NSW, you may apply to the Law Society for a practising certificate if you intend to principally practise as a solicitor in NSW. Your practising certificate needs to be renewed annually. Information on practising certificates can be found here.
If you are already admitted as a lawyer in an Australian jurisdiction other than NSW, you are not required to also become admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW. If your principal place of practice is NSW, you may apply to the Law Society for a practising certificate.
If your principal place of practice in Australia is another jurisdiction, you are not entitled to apply for a NSW practising certificate.
If you have been admitted to the legal profession in New Zealand, you may apply directly to the Supreme Court of NSW under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1996. For any enquiries call the Registrar of the Supreme Court of NSW on 1300 679 272 or email.
Following your admission in NSW and if your principal place of practice is NSW, you may apply to the Law Society for a practising certificate.
If you are admitted to the legal profession in an overseas jurisdiction (other than New Zealand) you must apply to the LPAB to have your qualifications and practical legal training assessed before you can apply for admission to the Supreme Court of NSW.
Detailed information on the assessment process is available on the LPAB website. For any enquiries call the LPAB on 02 9392 0300 or email.
