Specialist Accreditation

Specialist Accreditation
Law Society of South Australia

Click here for a list of LSSA Accredited Specialists

Specialist Accreditation is an assessment based selection process, which identifies and acknowledges lawyers who have a high level of technical skill, but more importantly, are able to demonstrate the practical application of those skills via an assessment program. Accredited Specialisation gives the public and the legal profession a reliable way of identifying solicitors who possess special competencies in particular areas of practice.

In June 2005 the Council of the Society resolved to enter into an agreement with the Law Institute of Victoria to enable members of the Law Society of South Australia to undertake the program to become accredited specialists. Due to jurisdictional differences the specialist areas of law available to Law Society of South Australia members is restricted to those areas of practice which are nationally uniform.

In 2010 the nationally offered areas of law for Specialist Accreditation are:

• Immigration Law

• Mediation

• Workplace Relations

Application Guidelines have been developed by the Law Institute of Victoria for each area of Law offered in 2010.  You may find guidelines by clicking the following links:

Immigration Law 

Mediation 

Workplace Relations     

These guidelines include core areas of knowledge for which you will need to display a working knowledge to successfully complete the assessment process. It is not uncommon for the assessment to include a question or questions that will require a variation in the response according to the jurisdiction within which you work. South Australian applicants respond according to the South Australian jurisdiction.

The assessments are not finalised when the guidelines are published hence these versions of the guidelines may make reference to resources unique to the Victorian jurisdiction. This should be obvious to South Australian applicants and you should make reference to the South Australian equivalent resources.

If you are considering the option of becoming an Accredited Specialist, please see below forms:

2010 Expression of Interest Form
First Step in registering your interest in becoming an Accredited Specialist.

2010 Application Form
Contains all information and forms required for application to begin the examination process.

Specialisation Scheme Rules
The Specialisation scheme is administered by the Specialisation Board, a committee of the Law Institute of Victoria Council.  The Law Society of South Australia Education Section and the LIV Specialisation Department handle the daily operations.

For further information, contact the Law Society on 8410 5865 or email specialist@lawsocietysa.asn.au or go to the LIV website: www.liv.asn.au.

South Australia Accredited Specialists

A list of current accredited specialists recognised by the Law Society of South Australia is attached.