Q. My licence was suspended in the previous or current licensing year, can I submit an application to reinstate my licence?
A. Yes, but after a licence has been suspended it is not automatically re-instated at the end of the period of suspension. You will need to make an application and will be required to demonstrate that you continue to meet the CLC’s licensing and professional standards. You will be asked to provide additional evidence to support our licensing decision and this will include:
- completing criminality and credit reference checks;
- providing evidence to show that during the period that you have not held a valid licence that you have maintained your legal knowledge and/or occupational experience. You will be asked to provide a copy of your most recent training record detailing the types of activities that you have completed in order to keep your occupational and professional skills up to date, such as:
- commercial CPD activities;
- employer led in-house training sessions;
- CLC webinars; and
- recent employment activities, which should accompanied by a supporting statement from your current employer;
- written confirmation from your current employer that they are fully aware of the nature and extent of the disciplinary event (pending or outcomes);
- employment references. The CLC will seek to obtain references from past or most recent employers; and
- a current CV.
Submission of this information will enable us to move towards making a licensing decision. You will be charged the standard application and Experian fees and applications are progressed in the standard timeframes.
Q. My license was suspended in the previous or current licensing year, I have been employed, but I haven’t completed any CPD? What should I do?
A. Before pursuing an application with us you should complete the standard annual 6 hours CPD requirement to hold a CLC licence (employed). This will evidence that you have maintained your legal knowledge. More information on the various learning activities that could count towards CPD hours can be found HERE.
Q. I haven’t been in employment whilst my licence was suspended and I am unable to afford CPD courses. What should I do?
A. While the CLC expects you to fulfil your CPD requirements, we do not expect this to be solely through commercially provided training. More information on the various learning activities that could count towards CPD hours can be found HERE.
Q. I haven’t been in conveyancing or probate employment whilst my licence was suspended and I am unable to demonstrate my occupational experience is up to date. What should I do?
A. If this period is less than two years we will accept CPD activity as a way of demonstrating your occupational experience is up to date. If the period is longer than 2 years you should email us at licensing@clc-uk.org and one of the licensing team will contact you to discuss your circumstances.
Q. I previously held a licence as was a manager at the practice before my suspension. Can I re-instate my licence and act as a manager?
A. No, if your licence is re-instated it will be issued as employed. If at a later date you gain employment as a Director, Partner or Member and become eligible to apply to change your licence from employed to manager, you will need to make an entirely new application. More information about applying to change your licence form employed to manager can be found in our Universal Guidance for individuals applying of a Licence or Authorisation
Please note: With the exception of applicants seeking to reinstate a Lapsed licence (less than 2 years), all other reinstatement applications required the applicant to complete and pay for the CLC’s enhanced level criminality and financial checks, which includes a Standard DBS check.
Important Note for CLC Lawyers seeking to reinstate a Suspended Licence: The CLC’s overriding principle when approving applications to reinstate a licence is that the applicant must intend to work in a supervised and not supervisory capacity for the licence duration.
