If the newly qualified advocate doesn have two year experience can he apply for the Certificate of Eligibility?
Yes, a newly qualified advocate can apply for the Certificate of Eligibility. If he/she does not have two years practicing experience as an advocate, the Law Society may consider pre-enrolment (enrolment with the State Bar Council) experience as paralegal, legal clerk, legal executive and issue a Certificate of Eligibility with the additional condition that the candidate must gain further experience prior to making an application for admission to the Roll of Solicitor of England and Wales. To fulfil the additional requirement of the Certificate of Eligibility, a candidate is required to work for a specific period (mentioned in the Certificate of Eligibility) in a Solicitors’ office in England and Wales in the practice of English Law (subject to the Law Society requirements).
