HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF STEP

Membership of STEP Worldwide is achieved through membership of a local branch. Membership of the Irish branch is in accordance with the requirements of STEP Worldwide and membership is achieved solely through either:

(a) The STEP Diploma for Ireland Route to entry i.e. successfully passing the Diploma run jointly by the Law Society and STEP in Trusts and Estate Planning, or

(b) The Qualified Practitioner Route to entry.

For any questions concerning membership of STEP Ireland please contact the Membership Secretary (contact details on STEP Ireland website).

(a) The Diploma Route to membership of STEP

The Society’s Council will admit to full membership those who have one or more of the following qualifications:

• Solicitor (Ireland)

• Barrister (Ireland)

• Chartered Accountant (Ireland)

• Certified Accountant (Ireland)

• Fellow of the Irish Taxation Institute

• Associate of the Irish Taxation Institute

• Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers

• Associate of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland (Diploma in Wealth Management)

• Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives (UK)

• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (UK)

• Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (UK)

• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK)

And

have at least two years experience in practice where a significant proportion of their practice is in trusts and estates.

And

have successfully passed the Diploma in Trusts and Estate Planning run jointly by the Law Society and STEP.

Students of the Diploma route will automatically be admitted to Student Membership of STEP on commencing the Diploma. The Student Membership fee for STEP is included in the fee for the Diploma Course.  Details of the 2010/2011 Diploma programme are not yet available but details of the 2009/2010 programme are available at:

http://www.lawsociety.ie/Documents/education/Diplomas/STEP.pdf

Information on the Diploma Course can be attained by contacting Freda Grealy at the Law School in the Law Society, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7 (01-6724802) f.grealy@lawsociety.ie or clicking on the website of the STEP Ireland www.step.ie and reviewing the news and events section.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Having obtained the Diploma, candidates should apply for full membership. Upgrade forms will be circulated to candidates at the end of the Diploma or they can also be found on the STEP Worldwide website at www.step.org/upgrade.

The fees for the diploma route to upgrade to full membership are £115/€140 plus £75/€80 TEP registration fee.

The Diploma Course is designed for those who already have some experience in the area of Trusts and Estates. For persons who do not have any practical experience in the area of Trusts and Estates to date but wish to build up their knowledge of this area in order to do the Diploma, STEP in conjunction with the Law Society run a Foundation Course from time to time. Details of this course may be obtained from Freda Grealy at the Law School.

 

(b) Qualified Practitioner Route to STEP Membership

The STEP Qualified Practitioner programme is a route to Full STEP membership for trust and estate practitioners who have established themselves in the field. Applicants join as a Student member of STEP.

Entry Requirements

The Qualified Practitioner route is for those with either:

• 10+ years’ experience in the trusts and estates field, or
• 5+ years’ experience in the trusts and estates field and a vocational degree, or
• 2+years’ post-qualification experience in the field.

The recognised qualifications list is as follows:

• Solicitor (Ireland)

• Barrister (Ireland)

• Chartered Accountant (Ireland)

• Certified Accountant (Ireland)

• Fellow of the Irish Taxation Institute

• Associate of the Irish Taxation Institute

• Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers

• Associate of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland (Diploma in Wealth Management)

• Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives (UK)

• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (UK)

• Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (UK)

• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK)

While not a requirement the Society recommends that applicants have four years’ post-qualification general experience in the field.

Application Process

Applicants apply to join STEP as a student member by filling in the qualified practitioner application form, available to download at www.step.org/qp,

and submitting this to STEP Worldwide. Please also read through STEP’s qualified practitioner terms and conditions for this entry route, also available at www.step.org/qp.

Once approved, three papers of between 2,500 and 3,000 words in length are required to be submitted within a four year period to demonstrate a level of knowledge acceptable to the Society. New topics are issued each year and of the four topic areas a maximum of one question from each topic can be chosen. Topics chosen must be submitted to STEP using the qualified practitioner topic registration form, available to download at www.step.org/qp.

Candidates are expected to consider and include relevant legislation; case law; revenue practice; current accounting principles; and administration procedures appropriate to the subjects chosen when completing their papers.

Time Scale

A list of topics is issued in July each year. Paper topics should be chosen with a registration form sent to STEP Worldwide by 30 November. Papers must be submitted no later than 30 April of the following year.

The results are released in August of each year and are issued directly from the STEP Worldwide office.

Qualified Practitioner Thesis Titles for 2011 are available at:

http://www.step.org/professional_development/step_qualifications/qualified_practitioner_route/qp_essay_topics/ireland.aspx

Upgrading to Full Membership

After successfully passing all three papers within four years of joining the Society you will then be asked to upgrade to full membership.

Fees for Qualified Practitioner Route

£80/€120 Student membership subscription fee (to accompany your application)

£200/€265 Application fee (to accompany your application)

£200/€265 Examiners fee (per paper) to accompany your paper submission(s)

£75/€100 Re-mark fee if you wish your paper to be remarked.

Upgrading to full membership: £115/€140 plus £75/€80 TEP registration fee

Please visit www.step.org/qp for more information.

 

July 2010