The CLC offers STEP-qualified probate specialists well-established pathways to upgrade their professional status and obtain a specialist licence from the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).

By obtaining a CLC licence to practice you will gain defined practice rights as an Authorised Person under the Legal Services Act 2007, enabling you to undertake reserved legal activities in your specialist area with full regulatory recognition.

STEP members with Advanced Certificates can obtain significant exemption from the CLC’s academic standard, which ordinarily requires completion of the SQA Level 6 Diploma in Probate Law and Practice. 

You may be able to claim exemption from up to two of the three units of the Level 6 Diploma if you have a STEP Advanced Certificates (England & Wales) in  Will Preparation and also in Administration of Estates or  Administration of Trusts.

Obtain a CLC Probate Licence 

The table below explains the academic requirements for STEP members.

Occupation Standard

You will need to demonstrate that you meet the CLC’s occupation standard by providing evidence of 1,200 hours of supervised practical experience over a minimum of 24 months. This experience must have occurred within the 36 months prior to your application. You may record this experience retrospectively, provided it was properly supervised and verified by a qualifying Authorised Person whilst is qualifying employment.

If you changed roles during this period and did not complete the full 1,200 hours or the breadth of supervised activities in a single role, you may submit multiple Statements of Experience signed by different qualifying Authorised Persons.

Further details on qualifying experience and supervision are available here.

For most candidates with substantial practical experience, this requirement is a retrospective formality. The supervising Authorised Person, typically a line manager, HoLP, or COLP, ICAEW Probate Practitioner, verifies your occupational competence based on your standard work activities, and this process is completed at no cost to you. If you are working in a consultancy or subcontracting arrangement with a qualifying employer (i.e. a practice regulated by the CLC, SRA, or CILEx Regulation), that practice may verify your practical experience.

Further Support

For questions about enrolment, course content, or fees, please contact the training provider directly. If you would like to discuss your individual professional circumstances, please email us at licensing@clc-uk.org.

Qualification and Licensing Fees

Average CLC/SQA Course Fees

• SQA Level 6: Units from £700–£900.

Licensing Fees

• CLC First Licence Application: See the Licensing Application and Screening Fees.
• CLC Licence Fees: See the CLC Licence Fees; individual licence fees are calculated on a pro-rata basis.