Why Become an Accredited Specialist?
Practitioners who are accredited as a specialist are recognised as having an enhanced skill level, as well as substantial involvement in established legal specialty areas. Gaining Accredited Specialisation is a significant achievement, providing practitioners with the opportunity to:
- Attain a higher level of competence and specialist skills
- Promote their expertise in a particular area of law
- Differentiate themselves from others practicing in a speciality area
- Achieve greater recognition amongst peers
- Enhance career development and opportunities
- Increases in referral work from the public and peers
Prerequisites for Accredited Specialisation
- Membership of the Law Institute of Victoria
- A current practising certificate
- At least five year’s experience in practice
- Substantial involvement* in the area of practice over the past three years
- Successful completion of the prescribed assessment program
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 Accreditation Scheme (NMAS).
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 Societies Victoria has a relationship with.