This form is intended for those submitting references in respect of an individual seeking to register as a student with the Law Society of Northern Ireland ("the Society").

Suitability to Act as a Referee

There are a number of requirements you must meet in order to provide a reference in support of an application for registration with the Society, as follows:

• Be a practising barrister, solicitor or advocate of at least 5 years standing in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales and/or the Republic of Ireland.
• Not be in a personal relationship with the applicant. This refers to a current or former romantic or domestic partnership with the applicant, including cohabiting partners. Friendships and professional relationships, including colleagues, are acceptable.
• Not be related to the applicant, for example by birth, marriage, divorce, civil partnership or adoption.
• Have personally known the applicant for a minimum of 2 years.

Verifying Your Professional Status

We must be able to verify your professional status. The directory search page for each regulator is as follows - please ensure your profile is available before commencing:

• Faculty of Advocates: https://www.advocates.org.uk/advocates
• Bar of Northern Ireland: https://barofni.com/public-legal-information/find-a-barrister
• Bar of Ireland: https://www.lawlibrary.ie/find-a-barrister/
• Solicitors Regulation Authority: https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/register/
• Law Society of Scotland: https://www.lawscot.org.uk/find-a-solicitor/
• Law Society of Northern Ireland: https://lawsoc-ni.org/using-a-solicitor/find-a-solicitor

Guidance Notes

• The minimum requirement is 20 words and the maximum is 500.
• The reference should be provided in English.
• For verification purposes, you will be asked to confirm your email address. We ask that you use your professional email address. References submitted with a personal reference will not be accepted.
• Your reference is provided in a personal capacity. It is understood that the views and opinions expressed are entirely your own and do not represent the views, positions, or policies of your employer or respective organisation. You are welcome to include a disclaimer to this effect as part of your reference.
• You should include your reference in the text box provided.
• The Society does not provide a reference template, but would ask that your reference note your relationship to the applicant and the duration of time they have known you.You are asked to submit your reference using the text box provided.
  
  

Please note, it is not possible to save your progress and return at a later time, so please ensure you have prepared your reference in advance of commencing the form.

 

Referee: {Applicant_Title} {Applicant_FirstName} {Applicant_MiddleNames} {Applicant_Surname}

Applicant: {31Please}