The duty in context
Hold a current practising certificate practice
The lawyer must hold a current practising certificate or authorisation and comply with the conditions of practising before providing legal services.
How the codes express this duty
E&W Solicitors SRA Principles & Code no clear equivalent
E&W Barristers BSB Handbook rC89.9.b; rC94.7 partial 12 cases
rC89 ... .9 there are systems in place to check that: ... .b every BSB authorised individual practising from your chambers has a current practising certificate and every other authorised (non-BSB) individual providing reserved legal activities is currently authorised by their Approved Regulator.
BSB Handbook · current · archived copy · official source ↗
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code 2026 R.13.3 partial
An attorney-at-law and a recognised law entity shall comply with any proper conditions or limitations reasonably imposed by the Council, including on the conduct of their practice.
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code of Professional Conduct · 2026 · archived copy
AU Solicitors Solicitors' Conduct Rules no clear equivalent
AU Barristers Uniform Barristers Rules no clear equivalent
IE Solicitors Law Society Guide Ch7 — Payment for assistant solicitors' practising certificates strong 10 cases
It is the obligation of each solicitor to ensure that they have a current practising certificate in place... It is both professional misconduct and a criminal offence for a solicitor to provide legal services without holding a current practising certificate issued by the Law Society.
Solicitor's Guide to Professional Conduct (Law Society of Ireland) · 4th ed. (2022) · archived copy · official source ↗
IE Barristers Bar Code of Conduct Rule 9.1 strong 10 cases
It shall be a requirement of all practising Barristers that they hold a current practising certificate. The Bar Council may specify by way of regulations, requirements to hold, applications for, the issuing, amendment, suspension and revocation of practising certificates ... Barristers shall comply [with such regulations].
Code of Conduct for the Bar of Ireland · 2024 · archived copy · official source ↗
JM Attorneys Canons of Professional Ethics Canon II(j); Canon V(s) strong 2 cases
Save as provided by Section 7 of the Principal Act, an Attorney shall not practise as a lawyer unless he has paid the prescribed fee in accordance with Section 5(1) of the Principal Act and has been issued with a Practising Certificate by the General Legal Council. ... [V(s)] Subject to the provisions of subsection 2 of section 5 of the Principal Act, an Attorney shall not practise as a lawyer except by virtue of and in accordance with the practising certificate issued to him by the General Legal Council.
Legal Profession (Canons of Professional Ethics) Rules · 1978 (principal) · archived copy · official source ↗
JE Lawyers Law Society of Jersey Code R.11.1 partial
In accordance with, and except as provided by The Law Society of Jersey Law 2005, no person shall practise Jersey law as an advocate or solicitor unless he or she is an ordinary member of the Law Society.
Law Society of Jersey Code of Conduct · 1 January 2017 · archived copy · official source ↗
ON Lawyers LSO Rules of Prof. Conduct r 7.6-1.2 partial
A lawyer whose licence to practise law is suspended shall comply with the requirements of the by-laws and shall not (a) practise law; (b) represent or hold himself or herself out as a person entitled to practise law; or (c) represent or hold himself or herself out as a person entitled to provide legal services. [The RPC restricts practice while suspended; the affirmative annual-licence/fee requirement sits in the by-laws.]
Law Society of Ontario — Rules of Professional Conduct · current · archived copy · official source ↗
BC Lawyers BC Code no clear equivalent
NZ Lawyers Conduct & Client Care Rules r 14.2 / r 1.2 partial
A lawyer who holds a practising certificate as a barrister sole must not— (a) practise as a solicitor; ... barrister sole means a lawyer ... who is the holder of a current practising certificate authorising the lawyer to act as a barrister and not as a barrister and solicitor.
Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008 · SR 2008/214 · archived copy · official source ↗
SCO Solicitors LSS Standards of Conduct no clear equivalent
SG Lawyers Professional Conduct Rules 2015 no clear equivalent
HK Solicitors Solicitors' Guide Principle 2.01 strong
A solicitor who does not hold a practising certificate is not qualified to act as a solicitor in private practice (Legal Practitioners Ordinance (Cap. 159), section 7). A sole practitioner or partner must hold an unconditional practising certificate.
Hong Kong Solicitors' Guide to Professional Conduct (Volume 1) · current · archived copy · official source ↗
HK Barristers Bar Code of Conduct para 5.1 strong
A barrister may not practise as such unless he:- (a) holds a valid practising certificate issued by the Bar Council under section 30; and (b) save where he has been admitted under section 27(4), has provided in writing to the Bar Council the current address and telephone number(s) of the professional chambers in Hong Kong from which he practises.
Code of Conduct of the Bar of the Hong Kong SAR · 2018 · archived copy · official source ↗
Cases dealing with this duty
191 decisions · link basis: found breached = a tribunal finding; rule cited = the mapped provision is cited in the decision; text match = high-precision text pattern
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Kate Veronique Annells
1. Since 1 July 2014, the Practitioner has operated her law practice as an incorporated legal practice (ILP). 2. The Practitioner did not, on behalf of the ILP, provide notice of an intention to commence legal practise …
Reprimand View decision -
Maria Demosthenous
1. Between May 2016 to 23 September 2025, the Practitioner operated her law practice as an incorporated legal practice. 2. The Practitioner did not, on behalf of the incorporated legal practice, provide notice of an int…
Reprimand View decision -
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Kerrison, Robert Francis
Lawyer failed to comply with a notice issued pursuant to s 371 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Uniform Law), the Lawyer is the subject of unresolved complaints, the Lawyer’s practising certificate was previously su…
Refusal to issue Practising Certificate for the practising period ending 30 June 2026 $0.00 Specified Duration: Manager appointed for a period of 2 years Manager Appointed: Yes Manager Appointed View decision -
David Roger Edwards
The Respondent’s conduct subject of charges 1 and 4 is characterised as professional misconduct.
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Stephen Brian Simmons
Breaches, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019
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Nguyen, Mai Anh
1. Engaged in legal practice between December 2021 and May 2024 without an Australian Practising Certificate, in contravention of the Legal Profession Uniform Law NSW (Uniform Law) and failed to disclose this in her App…
Refusal of grant of practising certificate $0.00 Disciplinary Action View decision -
Michael Baker
Breaches, Lack of Integrity, Practice Framework Rules, SRA Principles 2011
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Hughes, Owen Maldwyn
Failure to disclose AHRC sexual harassment complaint to the Law Society in his practising certificate renewal application Failure to disclose sexual harassment proceedings to the Law Society in his practising certificat…
Refusal of grant of practising certificate for the year ending 30 June 2024 $0.00 About About the OLSC The Commissioner History Mission statement Structure Contact Contact the OLSC Give us your feedback: online surveys Access to information (GIPAA) Community information Information for lawyers Fact sheets FAQs Other regulatory and complaint-handling organisations Contact LawAccess NSW for legal information " You and Your Lawyer", Hot Topics 78 Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of NSW , provides access to information about the law in NSW regarding your lawyer Privacy Copyright and Disclaimer Website accessibility View decision -
RICHARD JAMES LAWSON
Struck Off the Roll of Practitioners
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Zaki, Nader Youssef
Failure to apply for renewal of practising certificates before 30 June between 2014 -2023 raising concerns that the lawyer has practised without a practising certificate and/or professional indemnity insurance Failure t…
Refusal of grant of practising certificate for the practice year ending 30 June 2024 $0.00 About About the OLSC The Commissioner History Mission statement Structure Contact Contact the OLSC Give us your feedback: online surveys Access to information (GIPAA) Community information Information for lawyers Fact sheets FAQs Other regulatory and complaint-handling organisations Contact LawAccess NSW for legal information " You and Your Lawyer", Hot Topics 78 Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of NSW , provides access to information about the law in NSW regarding your lawyer Privacy Copyright and Disclaimer Website accessibility View decision -
Thompson, Melissa Jane
Failure by the Solicitor to provide the Law Practice Confirmation and Statement of Trust Money submission for the period 01 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 and due on 30 April 2020. Failure by the Solicitor to provide the L…
Refusal of grant of practising certificate for the practice year ending 30 June 2024 $0.00 About About the OLSC The Commissioner History Mission statement Structure Contact Contact the OLSC Give us your feedback: online surveys Access to information (GIPAA) Community information Information for lawyers Fact sheets FAQs Other regulatory and complaint-handling organisations Contact LawAccess NSW for legal information " You and Your Lawyer", Hot Topics 78 Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of NSW , provides access to information about the law in NSW regarding your lawyer Privacy Copyright and Disclaimer Website accessibility View decision -
Sarah Louise Williams
Breaches, Failures
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Hughes, Owen Maldwyn
Findings made by the Federal Circuit Court of Australia in May 2019 and the Federal Court of Australia in July 2020 that Mr Hughes’ conduct towards his former employee amounted to sexual harassment, the findings, declar…
Refusal of grant of practising certificate $0.00 About About the OLSC The Commissioner History Mission statement Structure Contact Contact the OLSC Give us your feedback: online surveys Access to information (GIPAA) Community information Information for lawyers Fact sheets FAQs Other regulatory and complaint-handling organisations Contact LawAccess NSW for legal information " You and Your Lawyer", Hot Topics 78 Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of NSW , provides access to information about the law in NSW regarding your lawyer Privacy Copyright and Disclaimer Website accessibility View decision -
Sideris, George
Designated Show Cause Event Notice issued to the Solicitor under s 90 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) (Uniform Law) in which it was alleged, among other matters, that: (1) The Solicitor had engaged in legal pr…
Suspension of Practising Certificate for the year ending 30 June 2022 and continuing for the year ending 30 June 2023 until such time as the suspension is lifted or cancelled $0.00 About About the OLSC The Commissioner History Mission statement Structure Contact Contact the OLSC Give us your feedback: online surveys Access to information (GIPAA) Community information Information for lawyers Fact sheets FAQs Other regulatory and complaint-handling organisations Contact LawAccess NSW for legal information " You and Your Lawyer", Hot Topics 78 Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of NSW , provides access to information about the law in NSW regarding your lawyer Privacy Copyright and Disclaimer Website accessibility View decision -
Judah, Albert
Breached Condition 1 on his 2016/17 practising certificate which permitted him to engage only in supervised legal practice and in the employ of a law practice. Breached Condition 5 on his practising certificate 2016/17 …
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RICHARD JAMES LAWSON
Struck Off the Roll of Practitioners
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RICHARD JAMES LAWSON
Professional Misconduct, referral to Supreme Court
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Hughes, Owen Maldwyn
Allegation 1 - The Lawyer engaged in sexual harassment and / or workplace bullying in breach of Rule 42 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules 2015 (“the Solicitors’ Rules”) Further, or…
Reprimand $0.00 About About the OLSC The Commissioner History Mission statement Structure Contact Contact the OLSC Give us your feedback: online surveys Access to information (GIPAA) Community information Information for lawyers Fact sheets FAQs Other regulatory and complaint-handling organisations Contact LawAccess NSW for legal information " You and Your Lawyer", Hot Topics 78 Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of NSW , provides access to information about the law in NSW regarding your lawyer Privacy Copyright and Disclaimer Website accessibility View decision -
Edward Pene
In respect of Charge 4, there is a finding that the Respondent engaged in professional misconduct. In respect of each of Charges 2, 3 and 5, there is a finding that the Respondent engaged in unsatisfactory professional …
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Michelle Cherie Harrington
In respect of each of Charges 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, there is a finding that the Respondent engaged in professional misconduct. In respect of each of Charges 4 and 5, there is a finding that the Respondent engaged in unsatis…
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Youssef, Nidah
From 3 July 2018 to 3 September 2018 the respondent solicitor engaged in legal practice in New South Wales without holding a practising certificate. The respondent solicitor attempted to mislead the Law Society of New S…
Reprimand $0.00 About About the OLSC The Commissioner History Mission statement Structure Contact Contact the OLSC Give us your feedback: online surveys Access to information (GIPAA) Community information Information for lawyers Fact sheets FAQs Other regulatory and complaint-handling organisations Contact LawAccess NSW for legal information " You and Your Lawyer", Hot Topics 78 Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of NSW , provides access to information about the law in NSW regarding your lawyer Privacy Copyright and Disclaimer Website accessibility View decision -
An Bui
Charges 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, there is a finding that the Respondent engaged in professional misconduct.
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Duty classification does not yet cover every jurisdiction (Ontario, New Zealand and Singapore decisions are indexed but not yet duty-classified), so counts here understate those corpora.