Accredited Specialisation

Accredited Specialisation is a way of standing out from your peers, of differentiating yourself from those practising in the same area of law. Specialist Accreditation indicates to potential clients your special skills and competence in a particular area of practice.

• Standards for attaining accreditation engender confidence in Accredited Specialists being able to provide high quality services. Members of the public have further confidence in Accredited Specialists, and expect their expectations to be met
• Accreditation is an individual attainment
• Accreditation always refers to special competence in a particular area of practice - it is not a general qualification
• Only practitioners who complete an LIV Accredited Specialisation course of assessment can call themselves an Accredited Specialist

Prerequisites for Accredited Specialisation

• Current Practising Certificate
• Five years full-time practice or equivalent
• A substantial involvement* in the area of specialisation during the three years prior to application. At least 25% of normal full time practice

Accreditation criteria

• Ability to demonstrate a high level of knowledge
• Capacity to apply that knowledge in practice

* Applicants seeking accreditation in mediation: Substantial involvement includes participation in at least 15 mediations as a mediator and formal mediation training.

Accredited Specialist mediators are automatically eligible to register with the National Mediator Acceditation Scheme (NMAS).

Assessment

Varying forms of assessment are employed to reflect the characteristics of legal practice and provide candidates different ways to demonstrate their expertise.

• Formal written examination - the application of legal knowledge and procedures
• Assignments based on mock files
• Drafting exercises
• Simulated interviews or practical advocacy exercises
• Examples of candidates' work

Senior members of the profession, academics and Victorian Bar members draft assessment tasks and mark examination papers, in the form of Advisory Committees - maintaining the elements of peer review.

Availability of accreditation

• Demand from users of legal services (the public in particular) is a key factor in determining the areas of practice in which accreditation is made available.
• Recognition of an area within the legal community and indications of long-term support from potential applicants are also important.
• The scheme relies heavily upon the support of practitioners willing to give leadership in establishing accreditation in a specialty.
• The Sections of the LIV have been instrumental in providing this leadership.

National accreditation

Since the Law Institute of Victoria introduced Accredited Specialisation in 1989, Law Societies in other states have followed suit. Family Law, Immigration Law, Mediation and Tax Law are currently offered on a National basis, with Workplace Relations building strength on a national level.

The Specialisation Board supports accreditation on a national scale by sharing information and resources and seeking common ground on policy and procedural matters. The LIV maintains a leadership role in the accreditation of interstate Specialists - and the Law Societie's Victoria has a relationship with.

Re-accreditation

Accreditation is for a period of three years, after which a Specialist must apply to the Specialisation Board for re-accreditation.

Re-accreditation is conditional on the continued 25% minimum involvement in the area of practice at the required level and compliance with continuing professional development standards.

Continuing Professional Development

CPD is essential to maintaining the continued high standing of Specialist Accreditation. Accredited Specialists must satisfy the criteria of the CPD Scheme as well as the extra CPD requirements of the Accredited Specialisation Scheme.

Accredited Specialists must complete a minimum total of 12 hours (12 CPD Scheme units) per year to maintain their accreditation. Eight out of the 12 CPD Scheme units must be in the specialists area of specialisation (Substantive Law), with the remaining four comprising of the required compulsory areas. There are CPD events tailored to the high skill level of Accredited Specialists.

Fees

• Application Fee: $1000.00 (including GST)
• Annual Fee: $385.00 (including GST)