The Family Law Specialist Accreditation Programme
The Law Society offers specialist accreditation in the area of Family Law (Specialist Accreditation). The Specialist Accreditation programme provides family law practitioners the opportunity to be formally recognised as having a high level of competency in their field. Specialist Accreditation provides the added benefit of being able to use the Family Accredited Specialist logo and branding on their marketing material.
To become an accredited specialist, you must:
- Be a current financial member of the Law Society
- Hold a current practising certificate
- Have at least five years experience in the practice of law
- Have had substantial involvement (no less than 25%) in the practice of family law over at least the preceding three years
- Provided the names of three referees in support of your application
- Successfully complete the Specialist Accreditation assessment programme
In order to continue to remain accredited, a practitioner shall meet the following requirements:
- Be a current financial member of the Law Society
- Hold a current practising certificate
- Pay the prescribed annual fee as it falls due
- Complete a minimum of 10 CPD points in approved accreditation activities each year
- Complete the re-accreditation application every three years
Downloads:
- List of current Accredited Family Law Specialists
- List of Approved Accreditation Activities 2022/2023
- List of Approved Accreditation Activities 2021/2022
- Points request form
- Accreditation Booklet
- National Mutual Recognition Policy
- Application for Re-Accreditation
- Accreditation Committee Terms of Reference
Family Law Specialist Accreditation Assessment Programme
The Specialist Accreditation assessment programme allows Law Society members to become accredited specialists in the area of Family Law.
The Specialist Accreditation assessment programme is run every two years. Applications for the 2023 programme have now closed.
Please note the timetable for the 2025 Specialist Accreditation assessment programme is to be confirmed in early 2025. The programme will consist of the following:
- Date TBA – Accreditation Assessment Information Session, Parts 1 & 2.
- Date TBA – Accreditation Assessment Information Session, Part 3.
- Date TBA – Applications close.
- Date TBA – Part 1: Mock File released.
- Date TBA – Part 2: Written Examination
- Date TBA – Part 3: Simulated Client Interview
- Date TBA – Results sent to candidates.
It is recommended that prospective applicants consider the documents located under ‘Downloads’ particularly the Accredited Specialisation Application Guidelines 2023.
Downloads:
- Application for Accreditation Specialist Exam 2021
- Accredited Specialisation Application Guidelines 2021
- Accredited Specialisation Performance Standards
- Application for the Committee’s Discretion – for candidates who do not meet the application eligibility criteria
- Simulated Client Interview – PowerPoint Presentation
Approved Accreditation Activities
Accreditation Activities approved by the Law Society’s Accreditation Committee for the claiming of Accreditation CPD points are linked in the downloads section of this page.
If you wish to submit a seminar for the Accreditation Committee’s approval please complete the Family Law Request for Points form and send it with supporting documentation to accreditation@lawsocietywa.asn.au. Requests for points should be submitted 14 days prior to each monthly Accreditation Committee meeting.
If you have any further questions about the Specialist Accreditation programme, please email accreditation@lawsocietywa.asn.au.
Disclaimer: The Law Society does not warrant or guarantee the work undertaken by any firm or individual listed or provided and is not liable in relation to any aspect of legal services they may provide to you.
