Some reasons you may want to surrender your practising certificate include:
- your role has changed and you no longer provide legal advice to clients or your employer
- you have retired, or taken up work not involving legal practice
- you’re taking an extended break from legal practice, including going on sabbatical or maternity leave
- you gave an undertaking to VCAT, or to us, to stop practising.
How to surrender your practising certificate
Let us know that you would like to surrender your practising certificate by completing the Request to surrender Australian practising certificate form. Both handwritten and electronic signatures are accepted on this form.
Submit your completed form via the lawyer enquiry form. Select 'Practising certificate' then 'Apply for, modify or cancel my practising certificate' and attach your completed form.
Once we update your record, you will no longer need to complete CPD or hold insurance.
Barristers can submit their Request to surrender Australian practising certificate form to the Victorian Bar.
Depending on your reasons for surrendering your certificate, you may be able to apply for a new practising certificate at a later date.
Closing a practice
If you are a principal of a law practice and intend to close your practice, there are a number of other steps you should take. Please see our closing a law practice web page.