The current volume of applications from English and Welsh solicitors for registration on the Irish Roll of Solicitors continues to grow, Law Society of Ireland Director General Ken Murphy says.
At 12 November 2019, 3,837 England and Welsh solicitors had been admitted to the Irish Roll.
Mr Murphy says the tide is “abating somewhat” as the number of admissions has fallen to 100 from “the more than 200 consistently seen during the summer period”.
He says this might reflect the Brexit extensions or the confirmation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in England and Wales that reciprocal admissions with Ireland will continue post-Brexit.
United Kingdom Admissions to Irish Roll of Solicitors (2019 to 12 November 2019)
| Domicile | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Total |
| England and Wales | 806 | 547 | 690 | 1,817 | 3,837 |
| Northern Ireland | 27 | 29 | 4 | 56 | 155 |
| Scotland | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Total | 83 | 576 | 737 | 1,877 | 4,000 |
Irish practising certificate entitlement
An Irish practising certificate entitles a solicitor practising in Ireland to provide legal services as defined by, and subject to the provisions of, the Solicitors Acts 1954-2015 and the rules and regulations made under those Acts.
As the status of solicitors on the Irish Roll who are practising outside the jurisdiction is a legally complex matter and, in light of queries from solicitors, the Law Society of Ireland has developed detailed clarifying guidance.
On 29 March 2019, the United Kingdom was scheduled to leave the European Union, following the notification of its intention to withdraw pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. Under former Prime Minister Theresa May the deadline for leaving the EU was twice delayed after MPs rejected her Brexit deal eventually pushing it to 31 October 2019. Despite negotiating a revised deal Prime Minister Boris Johnson missed the 31 October deadline and the EU has agreed to a further extension until 31 January 2020.