The Law Society offers specialist accreditation in the area of family law. The Accredited Family Law Specialist programme provides family law practitioners the opportunity to be formally recognised as having a high level of competency in their field. Accredited Specialists have the added benefit of being able to use the Family Accredited Specialist logo and branding on their marketing material to promote their high standing in the area.
To become an Accredited Family Law Specialist you must:
- Be a member of the Law Society
- Hold a current practising certificate
- Have at least five years’ practice experience
- Have had substantial involvement (at least 25%) in family law over the past three years
- Possess three references in support of your application
- Successfully complete the Accredited Family Law Specialist 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
- Paying the prescribed annual fee as it falls due
- Completing a minimum of 10 CLE points in approved accreditation activities each year
- Participating in re-accreditation every three years
Downloads
- List of Approved Accreditation Activities 2022/2023
- List of Approved Accreditation Activities 2021/2022
- List of Approved Accreditation Activities 2020/2021
- Points request form
- Accreditation Booklet
- National Mutual Recognition Policy
- Application for Re-Accreditation
- Accreditation Committee Terms of Reference
Family Law Accreditation Assessment Programme
The accreditation assessment programme allows Law Society members to become accredited specialists in the area of family law.
The programme is run every two years. Please note the Timetable for the 2023 Accreditation Assessment programme is shown below.
The programme will consist of the following:
Accreditation Assessment Information Session, Parts 1 & 2 – Tuesday, 14 March 2023 from 5.00pm – 6.00pm (please note the change of date)
Accreditation Assessment Information Session, Part 3 – Monday, 20 March 2023 from 5.00pm – 6.30pm (please note the change of date)
Applications close – Monday, 3 April 2023
Part 1: Mock File released – Friday, 9 June 2023 – with assignment due on Friday, 30 June 2023
Part 2: Written Examination – Saturday, 29 July 2023
Part 3: Simulated Client Interview – Sunday, 30 July 2023
Results sent to candidates – Early November 2023
It is recommended that prospective applicants consider the documents below particularly the Accredited Specialisation Application Guidelines 2021.
Downloads
- Application for Accreditation Specialist Exam 2023
- Accredited Specialisation Application Guidelines 2021 – Please Note: The 2023 Guidelines will be uploaded shortly.
- 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
- Policy for Applications for Exemption from Written Examination
Approved seminars and events
Accreditation Activities approved by the committee for the claiming of Accreditation points are linked in the downloads section of this page.
If you wish to submit an event 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.