The Law Society is proposing a 1.9% rise in its share of the annual practising certificate (PC) fee for the 2025–26 year. Chancery Lane has put forward a proposed PC fee contribution of £37.5 million, up from £36.8 million in 2024–25 and has asked members to contribute to its annual consultation on what the body’s priorities should be over the next three years.
The Law Society celebrates its 200th year this year which also marks the end of its current three year corporate strategy. The consultation is asking for views on the 2025-2028 corporate strategy which aims to address the key challenges and opportunities in the profession:
- technology, the practice of law and the experience of consumers
- promoting economic growth of legal services in tandem with a focus on better regulation
- promoting access to justice and the rule of law in the UK and around the world
- supporting the profession on all aspects of environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters
- championing our profession and the member experience
The 1.9% increase accounts for c.30% of the overall PC fee. Last year the £307 fee was distributed between The Law Society (28%), the SRA (52%) and the remaining 19% was split between other bodies including The Legal Ombudsman, The Legal Services Board, The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and The Office of Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision
The exact PC fee won’t be published until the SRA’s budget is published in May but it is expected to increase after SRA Chair Anna Bradley said in her February Board Meting reflection the regulator had to continue to deliver ‘business as usual’ and find the resource to address ‘all of the newer issues and at the same time invest in the future by developing our capability and capacity to identify and respond to new and emerging risks.’ Against this backdrop she added it was ‘clear’ an increase in the PC was needed.
Over the past decade, the PC fee has fluctuated. It stood at £320 in 2014, dropped to £290, and was then frozen at £278 for four years before falling again to £266 in 2022.
The 2025 practising certificate fee consultation can be found here.
