Accreditations

Children Law Accreditation Scheme

The Children Law Accreditation Scheme covers all types of children law work.

Members will have shown, to the satisfaction of the Law Society, that they have and will maintain a high level of knowledge, skills, experience and practice in the area of children law, be that in private practice or working for a local authority.

See more at: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/accreditation/specialist-schemes/children-law/#sthash.sSlBAagf.dpuf

Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS)

The Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) provides a recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practices. Membership achievement establishes a level of credibility for member firms with stakeholders (regulators, lenders, insurers and consumers) based upon:

• the integrity of the Senior Responsible Officer and other key conveyancing staff
• the firm’s adherence to good practice management standards
• adherence to prudent and efficient conveyancing procedures through the scheme protocol

This scheme creates a trusted community which will deter fraud – year on year, we will drive up standards. – See more at: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/accreditation/specialist-schemes/conveyancing-quality-scheme/#sthash.DINisq5l.dpuf

Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme

The Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme covers all types of criminal law work.

Members will have shown, to the satisfaction of the Law Society and through external examination, that they have and will maintain a high level of knowledge, skills, experience and practice in the area of criminal litigation.

The Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme is designed to enable solicitors, barristers and fellows of the Institute of Legal Executives (FILEX) to qualify to apply for inclusion on local duty solicitor rotas under the Legal Services Commission’s Criminal Defence Service Duty Solicitor Arrangements 2001. –

See more at: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/accreditation/specialist-schemes/criminal-litigation/#sthash.NgQy8NxH.dpuf

Family Law Accreditation Scheme

The Family Law Accreditation Scheme covers all types of family law work, except public law Children Act work, which is covered by the Children Law Accreditation Scheme.

Members will have shown, to the satisfaction of the Law Society, that they have and will maintain a high level of knowledge, skills, experience and practice in the area of family law.

See more at: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/accreditation/specialist-schemes/family-law/#sthash.68fLYQZw.dpuf

Family Law Advanced Accreditation Scheme

The Family Law Advanced Accreditation Scheme covers specialist areas of family law work. Members will have shown, to the satisfaction of the Law Society, that they have and will maintain a high level of knowledge, skills, experience and practice in selected, specialist areas of family law.

Members will have demonstrated those skills in two or more areas, comprising: children law private child abduction and wardship cohabitation violence in the home advice in and conduct of ancillary relief international issues complex asset cases – See more at: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/accreditation/specialist-schemes/family-law-advanced/#sthash.FZS4fwaK.dpuf

Lexcel

Lexcel is the Law Society’s international practice management standard. It is a scheme for any type of practice to certify that certain standards have been met following independent assessment.

The Lexcel practice management standard is only awarded to solicitors who meet the highest management and customer care standards. Lexcel accredited practices undergo rigorous independent assessment every year to ensure they meet required standards of excellence in areas such as client care, case management and risk management.

See more at: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/accreditation/lexcel/#sthash.4eVddwJq.dpuf

Resolution

Resolution, which was formerly known as the Solicitors Family Law Association (SFLA), is an organisation of 6,500 family lawyers and other professionals in England and Wales, who believe in a constructive, non-confrontational approach to family law matters. Resolution also campaigns for improvements to the family justice system.

Resolution supports the development of family lawyers through its national and regional training programmes, through publications and good practice guides and through its accreditation scheme. Resolution also trains and accredits mediators and is the only body providing training and support for collaborative lawyers in England and Wales.

Encouraging good practice

The cornerstone of membership of Resolution is adherence to the Code of Practice, which sets out the principles of a non-confrontational approach to family law matters. The principles of the code are widely recognised and have been adopted by the Law Society as recommended good practice for all family lawyers.

The code requires lawyers to deal with each other in a civilised way and to encourage their clients to put their differences aside and reach fair agreements.

Solicitors For The Elderly

Solicitors For The Elderly is an independent, national organisation of lawyers, such as solicitors, barristers, and legal executives who provide specialist legal advice for older and vulnerable people, their families and carers.

The main areas of law members cover are: Estate and tax planning using wills, trusts and lifetime giving, Giving powers of attorney and Court of Protection work, Probate and the administration of estates, Trusts administration, Living Wills, Information on home care, Preserving assets in the event of long term residential or nursing care, Care home contracts, Advice on financial responsibility and funding criteria for long term care, State benefits, Home equity release plans, Mental Health legislation, Elder abuse, Mediation, Deprivation of Liberty

STEP

STEP members spend their professional lives working with families and tackling real problems. Common issues for members to advise on are: providing for a husband or wife after the death of a spouse while protecting the interests of any children; ensuring that a family business will pass safely from one generation to another; care and support for elderly or vulnerable relatives; ensuring that families with interests and family members spread across differing countries are compliant with the laws and tax rules of different jurisdictions; and helping donors support philanthropic causes in an effective way.

Help and Support for Separated Families (HSSF)

The Help and Support for Separated Families (HSSF) Mark is part of the Help and Support for Separated Families programme and provides parents with the reassurance that the family lawyers that hold the Mark promote collaborative working between parents following separation.

Family lawyers must meet a strict set of standards which demonstrate that they promote collaboration between parents and help them focus on the interests of their children. Family Law in Partnership lawyers offer a range of services to help clients negotiate the divorce and separation process including access to in-house Parenting After Parting workshops which encourage parents to place the interests of their children at the heart of their decision making process.

ISO 9001

ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised standard for the quality management of businesses. It applies to the processes that create and control the products and services an organisation supplies, and prescribes systematic control of activities to ensure that the needs and expectations of customers are met. ISO 9001 is designed and intended to apply to virtually any product or service, made by any process anywhere in the world.