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Universal Guidance for individuals applying for a Licence or Authorisation

Click to Download the Universal Guidance for individuals applying for a Licence or Authorisation

 

The CLC uses the online platform DocuSign to process all applications and will also instruct a separate screening agency to carry out the associated screening checks for applications.

Your application will be rejected if the evidence provided does not demonstrate that you have met the eligibility criteria. So please read all the available guidance carefully.

The universal guidance is for individuals intending to apply for any of the following:

  1. CLC Conveyancing Licence
  2. CLC Probate Licence
  3. CLC Conveyancing and Probate Licence
  4. Change the scope of a current CLC Licence (add Conveyancing or Probate to an existing licence)
  5. Reapplying following an Expired or Suspended licence
  6. Head of Legal Practice (HoLP)
  7. Head of Finance and Administration (HoFA).

 

Proof of Identity

All applicants will be contacted directly by the screening agency instructed by the CLC and must provide three separate forms of proof of identity and residency. 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).

View information on how to correctly certify your documents here.

 

Application Stages

More detail can be found under Making an Application

A summary of the application process is below:-

1. Check you are eligible. Before the CLC can accept an application as having been made, applicants must satisfy the CLC they are:

a) a fit and proper person to practise as a CLC lawyer; and

b) have passed the CLC’s Qualifying Examination, and

c) have completed the CLC’s Practical Training requirements.

Collectively this is referred to as pre-eligibility Items 1a, 1b, and 1c.

 

2. Verifying your academic and practical experience. The CLC will verify that you are eligible to make a licence application.This will include assessing your professional qualifications (Conveyancing. Probate. Other Legal Qualifications) and that your work experience meets the CLC qualifying practical experience criteria.

3. Request an applicationform through the CLC website. 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.

4. Accepting an application. The CLC will treat a Licence application as having been made on the day on which the applicant has complied fully and finally with items 1a, 1b, and 1c. The CLC will return any applications that do not meet these criteria. We will email you to tell you whether your application has been accepted as made or not.

5. Once we have accepted your application as having been made. We will invoice you for the application fee.

6. Pay the application fee. The CLC aims to progress applications within 42 days from the date payment is received. We will not contact applicants unless we require further information. Applicants seeking to reapply after a period of licence expiry or suspension/disqualification, and those with complex applications may take longer.

7. A licensing decision. We will contact you to confirm our licensing decision.

8. Pay the annual licence fee applicable to your licence type.

9. Your licence will be issued in your legal name as it appears in your passport.