Solicitors - practising certificate help - maternity exemption

[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!

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

If you were not on ml (ie you were a sahm) then clearly you don't
qualify. If you are training to be a solicitor and can't interpret something this clearly laid out, with all due respect, I'd be a little worried!

I doubt it from the wording there but it will cost you nothing to ring and ask.

Did you claim maternity allowance while you were off? If you did I'd mention it because they might accept that as proof of your maternity leave even if you weren't on maternity leave from a job.

If you are liable for the whole lot you may be able to pay in instalments.

Mm, hairytaleofnewyork, thanks for your wonderfully snarky comment. How helpful.

I was in receipt of maternity allowance, so will ask the SRA about it, thanks for the suggestion IslaDoit

Sorry but did I read wrong?

You said you were a sahm during the relevant period, not mat leave? but now you are saying you were getting MA - you can't get MA if you aren't in ML - which is the correct
situation?

Sorry but the wording is quite clear re: maternity leave, rather than choosing not to work outside the home.

Is this the 2010 to 2011 certificate? If so then presumably your firm has already paid so it would be too late to apply fit an exemption I'd have thought.

Hi there did you get this sorted? I'm on Mat leave and when it came to certificate renewal time I rang the SRA as I too found it confusing. I imagine if you did have to pay a fee it would be less based on the negligible amount of profit costs you brought in.