Solicitors - Practising certificate renewal help

[nicecupofteaplease]

I am paying for my own practising certificate (leaving job so have to reimburse firm) and was just wondering about the maternity exemption.

The firm are trying to charge me the full whack (or the unexpired portion thereof), but I had a baby at the beginning of November last year so am wondering whether I qualify for the maternity exemption which halves the PC fee.

The issue is, I was a SAHM to my first child when I had my baby, so not technically "on maternity leave". The guidance states -

*The fee is reduced to £188 plus a £60 contribution to the compensation fund and is available if you

are taking maternity leave at the time you apply for renewal, or
were on maternity leave between 1 November 2010 and 31 October 2011*

What do you think. Do I fall into this category, or does one have to have been on maternity leave from employment during the period in question? I can't see that it should make a difference as I was not working because I had just had a baby, but wanted to canvass opinion before I try to argue this.

Thanks!

You could try re-posting this in Employment Issues www.mumsnet.com/Talk/employment_issues.

There are some really good HR/employment lawyer MNers who might be able to answer this - and that topic seems to be a bit busier.

Good luck

So did the firm pay the full fee last year? If so you need to reimburse them and then claim the maternity exemption for the current year (if the SRA ever get sorted). If they paid the reduced fee then they can't really ask you to pay the full whack, can they?

I took mat leave in Aug 2009, so employer paid the full fee for 2008/2009. When I renewed in Nov 2009 I was on mat leave so employer only paid half fee.

HTH