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Qualifications and accreditations

All solicitors must have a valid current practising certificate from the Law Society. You can ask to see their certificate if you have any concerns about this. It is normally displayed in their office. This certificate confirms they have all the qualifications needed to practise as a solicitor and that they hold professional indemnity insurance to compensate you in the event that they are negligent or fraudulent in the handling of your case.

There are many different areas of law and no solicitor can be an expert in all of them. That is why simply picking a firm out of the local phone directory is not a good idea.

Solicitors that are experts in a particular area of law can apply for membership of an accreditation scheme run by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Solicitors have to pass strict tests set by the SRA before they can gain accreditation.

Specialist accreditation schemes

Membership of an accreditation scheme means a solicitor has satisfied the Solicitors Regulation Authority that it is the expert in the particular area of law. There are different accreditation schemes for different areas of the law.

• Children Panel Accreditation Scheme
  
  
• Civil and Commercial Mediation Accreditation Scheme
  
  
• Clinical Negligence Accreditation Scheme
  
  
• Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme
  
  
• Family Law Accreditation Scheme
  
  
• Family Law Accreditation Scheme Advanced
  
  
• Family Mediation Accreditation Scheme
  
  
• Higher Courts Rights of Audience
  
  
• Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme
  
  
• Insolvency Practitioners
  
  
• Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme
  
  
• Personal Injury Accreditation Scheme
  
  
• Planning Law Accreditation Scheme
  
  
• Police Station Representatives Accreditation Scheme
  
  

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