Entrance Certificates

An entrance certificate is an essential document that all trainees must have before starting their traineeship. The purpose of an entrance certificate is to certify that you are a ‘fit and proper’ person to be a trainee solicitor. The fit and proper test checks that you have all of the necessary qualifications and asks about past events that speak to your character and integrity.

The video below explains more about why an entrance certificate is needed, as well as the process for obtaining one.

Please note that because of the recent changes made by Disclosure Scotland, the section in the video about Disclosure certificates is inaccurate.  For more information about the new Disclosure processes, see the information below the video.

Further information about Entrance Certificate

Disclosure Scotland Certificates

From 1 April 2025, Disclosure Scotland changed the way it processes and sends Disclosure certificates. The main changes you need to be aware of are:

  • You will now be required to obtain a Level 2 disclosure. This is identical to the old Standard disclosure.
  • You will need to create a ScotAccount to apply for a certificate.  The new process is all online. You no longer fill out a form and submit it to the Law Society for countersigning. Now, we will start the application for you, using the information in your entrance certificate application.  You then get an email from Disclosure Scotland with a link to complete the application and will pay their fee, before you submit it.
  • Once you have been sent your online certificate by Disclosure Scotland, you will have to request that it is sent on to the Law Society. Disclosure Scotland will provide guidance on how to do this.

Full details of the new process are at the “Level 2 disclosure” link above.

Please note that although we are here to help, the Law Society may be unable to answer any questions that you have about the new process.  Any questions about the changes or your ScotAccount should go to Disclosure Scotland.

If any of the information on this page, about the Law Society’s processes, is unclear, we’d be happy to answer those.

  • You should apply at least four weeks before the date you wish to start your traineeship. If you wish to start your traineeship sooner than that, you will be asked to explain why on your application form.
  • During the months between May and September apply at least eight weeks before the date you start your traineeship. This is due to the high volumes of applications we receive.
  • The earliest you can submit your application is 6 months prior to your proposed traineeship start date.

You can apply for an Entrance Certificate if you don’t have a traineeship in place or a start date confirmed.  However, we will not issue an Entrance Certificate until we receive that information.

You can also apply for an Entrance Certificate before your Diploma has been awarded.  However, you can’t have a traineeship start date that is earlier than your Diploma award date and we will not issue your certificate until we have confirmation of your Diploma award, which we receive directly from your university.

You must complete the online application form at the bottom of this page. 

As part of the process, you will also have to complete a Level 2 Disclosure application form.  We start that online process for you, using the information you provide us in your entrance certificate application. You will then get an email directly from Disclosure Scotland with a link to complete the application and will be asked to pay for that certificate, before you submit it. Once you have been sent your online certificate by Disclosure Scotland, you will have to request that it is sent on to the Law Society. Disclosure Scotland will provide guidance on how to do this.

When you apply for your Entrance Certificate you will need:

  1. A recent passport sized photograph.
  2. A copy of your birth certificate. If you cannot provide this, you can provide an alternative piece of ID but that alternative ID must include your name and current address.
  3. One form of photographic ID. If you cannot provide your birth certificate, this must be your passport.
  4. One item showing your current home address.
  5. Evidence of any name change, if applicable.
  6. A copy of your LLB degree certificate. This should be your official degree certificate and should include your university's crest and/or be signed by an officer or your university.  Please do not submit an award letter.
  7. A copy of your official LLB academic transcript or Higher Education Achievement Report (showing passes in all subjects and in all years of study). This is an official document from your university and, like your degree certificate, should include your university's crest and/or be signed by an officer or your university.

Please note that you do not need to provide us with your Diploma award letter or certificate.  We will confirm that you have passed this by liaising directly with your university.

We aim to issue Entrance Certificates six weeks from when they were submitted. This time can vary due to the volume of applications that we receive at certain points of the year, and can take up to eight weeks during the peak times of May to September.

Additionally, we are reliant on the Disclosure Scotland process, and we cannot affect their timeframes.  We cannot issue you with an entrance certificate until Disclosure Scotland has completed its checks and returned its certificate.

Application forms

Entrance Certificate application form

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