What is an accredited specialist?

• An accredited specialist is an experienced lawyer whom the NSW Law Society formally recognises as an expert in a particular field of law. Those lawyers who are awarded this prestigious qualification are widely regarded  as the leading practitioners – armed with a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience – in their respective fields. NSW Law Society’s Specialist Accreditation Chair, Jacqueline Dawson says: ‘Specialist Accreditation is held by less than 5% of the profession here in New South Wales. Specialist Accreditation is a rigorous process and getting accredited is just the start. When a specialist retains their accreditation year on year their clients know the value of the advice they receive.’ Who can become an accredited specialist? The minimum requirements for an accredited specialist in New South Wales are:
• They have practiced as a solicitor for at least five years on a full-time basis;
• At least 25% of their practice in the three years before applying to become an accredited specialist was devoted to that area of law; and
• They pass all three components of the specialist accreditation assessment program in their accredited area of practice.

To retain their accreditation, specialists must annually renew their accreditation. Further, they must undertake additional professional education to ensure that they maintain their high level of knowledge and skills. What are the requirements to become a Family Law Accredited Specialist? An applicant for the family law specialist accreditation programme must satisfy the examiners that they have comprehensive knowledge, experience and skills in all significant aspects of family law. The assessment process comprises of three components:

• A wide-ranging written examination;
• A stimulated interview where the examinee’s knowledge as well as oral communication and interviewing skills are rigorously assessed; and
• A mock file in which the candidate’s legal drafting skills are comprehensively assessed.

In what fields are accredited specialist recognised? The NSW Law Society accredits lawyers as specialists in the following areas of law:

Advocacy

Business Law

Children’s Law

Commercial Litigation

Criminal Law

Dispute Resolution

Employment & Industrial Law

Family Law

Government and Administration Law/Public Law

Immigration Law

Local Government and Planning Law/Planning & Environment Law

Mediation

Personal Injury

Planning & Environment Law

Property Law

Taxation Law

Wills & Estates

Advocacy Business Law Children’s Law Commercial Litigation Criminal Law Dispute Resolution Employment & Industrial Law Family Law Government and Administration Law/Public Law Immigration Law Local Government and Planning Law/Planning & Environment Law Mediation Personal Injury Planning & Environment Law Property Law Taxation Law Wills & Estates Why do lawyers obtain specialist accreditation? The NSW Law Society explains the benefits of obtaining specialist accreditation lawhttps://www.lawsociety.com.au/specialist-accreditation: ‘Gaining Accreditation is a significant achievement which offers practitioners a recognised means of differentiation and demonstrated expertise and gives them the opportunity to ‘stand out from the crowd’. In an increasingly complex and competitive market, the expertise and professionalism which forms the cornerstone of Specialist Accreditation remains an easily identifiable choice for consumers of legal services. Accreditation provides practitioners with the opportunity to:

Promote and highlight expert legal knowledge, skills and services for the public and the profession

Build new and strengthen existing relationships with their peers

Support continued learning and development with access to CPD for Accredited Specialists

Maintain standards and contribute to the future of the profession by joining a Specialist Accreditation advisory committee

Promote and highlight expert legal knowledge, skills and services for the public and the profession Build new and strengthen existing relationships with their peers Support continued learning and development with access to CPD for Accredited Specialists Maintain standards and contribute to the future of the profession by joining a Specialist Accreditation advisory committee’ Opal Legal’s Principal – Namrata Singh is an accredited specialist in Family Law.