First Time PC Holder (Tas) – Apply Online

Read Tips and Checklist First

1. Before starting your practising certificate (PC) application, you must read the tips and checklist below before starting your application.
2. Once you have read this information and have checked that you have all your necessary documents (in the correct format) on hand, you are ready to get started.
3. Check the 2022-2023 Fee Guide.
4. Apply for a New Practising Certificate Form.

Tips

• This form is for applicants who have never previously been a member (of any kind) of the Society. As you will not yet have an account you will not be able to Save and Resume during your application process.
• If you have previously been a member, which means you will require account reactivation, do not use this form.
• Stay in your browser tab whilst you are completing your form. Important: Do not refresh the browser. Do not use ‘back’ and ‘forward’ in your internet browser, instead use ‘previous’ and ‘next’ or you will lose your work. Complete your form in one sitting if possible.
• High compatibility browsers: Chrome browser is recommended.
• If you are using the Edge browser and have issues, review your cookie settings and ensure 3rd party cookies not set to ‘blocked’.
• If you have technical issues, contact the Society on (03) 6234 4133 during business hours (9am-5pm) or email membership@lst.org.au.
• Any links provided by the Society in the form itself are safe to click on as they will open a separate tab.
• Check the Fee Guide above and your payment terms before starting the application process.
• Important declaration: A declaration is required to be read and acknowledged by you prior to submitting this application form. The submission of this application form by you will be treated as your signature equivalent.

Ensure you have the following items (as applicable) handy before you start completing your form.

Checklist

1. Admission Certificate: If you have never previously held a practising certificate, you will be asked to upload a copy of your admission certificate.
Certificate of Fitness: If your most recent practising certificate was held in another jurisdiction, you will be asked to upload a Certificate of Fitness from that jurisdiction.
2. PDF Statement – Eligibility to Apply (section 48 of the Legal Profession Act 2007): You will be asked where you intend to solely or principally engage in legal practice. If you answer outside Tasmania, provide details of your intended practice. You will need to have a prepared statement handy to upload during this application process. There is no set form or format, however to successfully upload it must first be saved as a pdf.
3. PDF Statement – Fitness to hold a Practising Certificate (Sections 9, 43 and 53 of the Legal Profession Act 2007): You will be asked whether there are any matters (including undetermined conduct complaints) about which the Society should be informed. If your answer is yes, you will need to have a prepared statement handy to upload during your application process. There is no set form or format, however to successfully upload it must first be saved as a pdf.
4. PDF Statement – Show Cause Events (Sections 4, 73, 74, 75 and 76 of the Legal Profession Act 2007):

– Bankruptcy: You will be asked whether you have become bankrupt, been served with a Notice of a Creditor’s Petition, presented or declared your intentions to present a Debtor’s Petition, or applied to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors or compounding with creditors or making an assignment of remuneration for the benefit of creditors. If you select yes, you will be asked to provide details during your application process. There is no set form or format, however to successfully upload it must first be saved as a pdf.
– Notifiable offences: You will also be asked if you have been found guilty of a serious offence or tax offence whether committed in or outside Tasmania. If your answer is yes you will be asked to provide details during your application process. There is no set form or format, however to successfully upload it must first be saved as a pdf. Note: The Society does not require disclosure of convictions for minor offences such as minor traffic or licensing offences and the like. There is no requirement to repeat disclosures already made to the Society in association with a previous application or renewal unless there has been a material change in the matter disclosed.

6. Part-Time Practitioners: You may be asked, depending on the practising certificate type, if you will be working part-time. This question relates to professional indemnity insurance and may give rise to a fee discount eligibility. Tick the part-time box only if you will be employed no more than 22.8 hours per week for the financial year 21/22, and will not work an average of more than 22.8 hours per week in that financial year.
7. Law Library Levy: You may be asked if you would like to access the resources of the Tasmanian Law Library (unless automatically included, depending on the practising certificate type). See the Fee Guide above. The library has extensive hard copy and online materials and can assist you to identify and locate primary and secondary legal resources. Subscription also entitles you to desktop library services provided by Thompson Reuters. For further information visit the Law Library website.
8. Society Identity Card: A headshot photo of you for the issue an ID card. You will be given the opportunity to request a Society Identity Card. This is primarily used by practitioners for law court security access but can also be used to take advantage of the Society’s member benefits in person (e.g. retailer discounts).

Important declaration: As stated above, a declaration is required to be read and acknowledged by you prior to submitting this application form. The submission of this application form by you will be treated as your signature equivalent.