Universal Guidance for individuals applying of a Licence or Authorisation

This guidance is for individuals intending to apply for a licence or an authorisation with the CLC. The CLC uses the online platform, DocuSign to process applications and the credit agency Experian to carry out the associated checks for the following applications:

1. Employed Licence
2. Manager Licence
3. Change of Licence from Employed to Manager
4. Head of Legal Practice (HoLP)/ Head of Finance and Administration (HoFA)
5. CLC Approved Manager (Lawyer)
6. CLC Approved Manager (non-Lawyer)
7. Re-instating a lapsed licence 
8. Re-instating a suspended licence

Proof of Identity

All applicants must provide three separate forms of proof of identity. These documents will be uploaded onto the Experian system.
Important note: one copy proof of your personal identity must be a copy of your current and valid Passport (mandatory requirement) *Please note if you are applying for a CLC licence the licence will be issued in your legal name as it appears in your Passport).

Application Stages

Stage 1. Request an application form through the CLC website

Stage 2. DocuSign [dse@eumail.docusign.net] will email you with helpful instructions and a unique link to access your application. You will have 28 days to complete and submit your application on either a smart phone, tablet or computer. With DocuSign you can save and finish your application at another time if needed. If you need any assistance when completing your application you should contact licensing@clc-uk.org. If we find that your application has been completed incorrectly or important information is missing, you will receive an email from DocuSign with instruction on what to do next. Your application won’t be reviewed until after you have responded to DocuSign.

Stage 3. The CLC Finance Team will email you with instructions about how to pay your application fee. You will need to pay this invoice before being able to progress to stage 4.

Stage 4. The CLC Licensing Team will email you to:
a) confirm receipt of payment for application fees;

b) notify you that Experian will be instructed to carry out your checks; and

c) confirm your application has progressed to the review stage (the CLC aims to progress applications within 42 days from this point. We will not contact you unless we require further information. During the review period applicants are not provided with adhoc updates about their application). *Please note, the reinstatement of a suspended licence or complex applications may take longer.

Stage 5. Experian will email you with instructions on how to pay for and then start your checks. The checks can take up to 8 weeks to complete.

Stage 6. We will contact you with the final licensing decision.

Stage 7. (For licence applications only) You will need to make payment for your annual CLC licensing fee. Once our Finance Team confirm receipt of your payment, your licence will be issued to you by email.