Scottish solicitors approve uplift to practising certificate fee

Solicitors have approved a Law Society of Scotland proposal to increase the practising certificate (PC) fee, which will remain lower in real terms than before the pandemic.

The PC fee for 2022/23 will be £585. The new rate is 8% lower in real terms compared to the pre-pandemic PC fee, and only £35 higher than the fee payable by solicitors over a decade ago in 2010.

The decision was a key order of business at the Law Society annual general meeting, which was held online on Thursday, 26 May, approving a recommendation made by the Society’s governing Council.

The PC fee had previously been substantially discounted over the past two years, as part of a £2.2 million support package provided by the Law Society to support the profession through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Law Society President Ken Dalling said: “Our members in the solicitor profession have approved a practising certificate fee that will allow the Law Society to fulfil its core duties of effectively regulating in the public interest and providing solicitors with the services and support which they need and deserve.

“We temporarily cut the PC fee by 20% in 2020/21 to support solicitors when they needed it most, at a point when we had no way of knowing what the full impact of the pandemic would be. Our members’ approval of the increased PC fee demonstrates recognition that, as we start to move on from the pandemic, we must ensure the Law Society’s finances are secure. Like every household, company and organisation, the Society is continuing its important work against a backdrop of record levels of inflation and rising energy costs.

“Setting a fair and sustainable fee means the Law Society is now able to renew its focus on providing effective regulation that ensures public confidence in the solicitor profession remains high, and that our members have access to the support and services which will help them and their organisations thrive.

“We remain keenly focused on controlling costs and focusing on our core functions to provide the best possible value for money for our members. Our careful budget management has meant we have been able to limit fee increases for our members, with the new PC fee 8% lower in real terms compared to the pre-pandemic fee, and only £35 higher than the fee payable by solicitors over a decade ago in 2010.”

Solicitors also approved the re-appointment of BDO as auditors to the Society and the Client Protection Fund.