2008 Program

Eligibility

Program Timetable

Assessment requirements

Assessment - Performance Standards

Methods of Assessment

Assessment Results

2008 Program

The areas of practice offered in 2008 are:

• Advocacy
• Commercial Litigation
• Personal Injury Law

NSW practitioners interested in gaining accreditation in Immigration Law can still do so in 2008 by contacting and applying to the Law Institute of Victoria, please visit www.liv.asn.au.

2008 Guide to Application and Assessment.

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Eligibility

What are the eligibility criteria?

Practitioners who apply need to satisfy the following criteria:

1. Hold a current practising certificate; and
2. Have practised for five years on a full-time basis, or equivalent; and
3. For the three years prior to application, demonstrate a substantial involvement in the area and,
4. Time devoted to this area of practice in each year of the past three year period is not less than 25% of normal full-time practice; and
5. Be a solicitor member of the Law Society of New South Wales or be a full member of an equivalent state or territory body in Australia.

Please note: When calculating years in practice, 'years' run from the date of commencement of practice to 30 June in the year of application.

For applicants seeking accreditation in mediation, 'substantial involvement' shall be not less than 10 mediations or 30 hours of mediation as a mediator using the Law Society mediation model

The intake for the 2008 program has now closed. Thank you to all those who have applied.

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Program Timetable

What’s happening	When
Information Night for potential candidates	15 April
Applications for Specialist Accreditation close	30 April
Australian Advocacy Institute Workshop – mandatory for all Advocacy candidates (www.advocacy.com.au)	30 May to 1 June
Mock files for Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury distributed to candidates	4 June
Written outline for Advocacy distributed	13 June
Mock files for Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury due	25 June
Examinations & interviews for Advocacy, Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury	26/27 July
Written outline for Advocacy due	2 August
Mock court for Advocacy held	2 August
Results released to candidates	by 6 October
Reassessment and/or appeal applications close	14 days from result notification
Reassessment and/or appeal results released	by end November
Graduation Reception	early December

For enquiries related to the 2008 Program contact:
Anita Khosla
Email: specialists@lawsocnsw.asn.au
Phone: (02) 9926 0305

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Assessment requirements

• Advocacy
• Commercial Litigation
• Personal Injury

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Assessment - Performance Standards

What is the expected performance standard?

The standard to be applied in the Specialist Accreditation Scheme is to be the standard of the "specially competent practitioner", being a practitioner who can demonstrate the core skills and practical capabilities in the selected area of the law, as assessed against the spectrum of capability of all practitioners in that area of the law. This standard is to be distinguished from the idea that the Scheme requires the highest technical legal knowledge across all aspects of the selected area of law.

Further information on specific performance standards for each area of practice offered can be found in the Assessment requirements for that area of practice.

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Methods of Assessment

What are the methods of assessment?

Methods of assessment in each practice area generally include:

• An open/closed book written exam.
• A take home mock file or take home assignment; and
• A peer or a simulated interview.

The general character of each assessment component is described below:

Assessment types	Description
Open/closed book written exam	A written examination between two to three hours in length. Candidates are permitted to bring into the examination any books, notes, legal services or other texts. Examination generally requires answers to several questions focusing on the application of legal knowledge. The exception to this is for Personal Injury. Personal Injury candidates will be given a list of 80 questions in advance, of which a random selection of 20 questions will be used for the written exam. A few non-disclosed practical questions are also included in the exam. As a result, the written exam for Personal Injury is closed book.
Mock file	Mock files require candidates to undertake tasks required in practice. Candidates are required to return the work within a period of time which may include three weekends. In some specialty areas candidates are given a choice of elective sub-specialties for the mock file.
Simulated interview	An assessment requiring the candidates to interview a person acting the part of a client. The interview is recorded and the assessment made from the recording.
Peer interview	These interviews are conducted by a panel of assessors with expertise in the relevant area of practice (usually two), asking questions regarding legal practice and/or the candidate's mock file, if appropriate. The interview is recorded.

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Assessment Results

What happens following my final assessment?

Candidates will receive notification of their results in early October (approximately 10 weeks after their final assessment). Candidates will be notified in writing. No results will be communicated over the phone.

Candidates will be provided with overall comments regardless of whether they have passed or failed to gain accreditation.

What are the marks awarded?

Only one of two marks, pass and fail, will be awarded. Candidates must pass every form of assessment to be eligible for accreditation. In relation to assessments, the decision of the Board is final.

What are my options if I do not pass an assessment?

Candidates have two options available to them if they do not successfully pass an assessment. These could generally be characterised as merit and process reviews.

What are my options if I do not successfully gain accreditation following a reassessment or appeal?

Unsuccessful candidates will need to reapply the next time the area of law is offered.

The unsuccessful candidate will have to re-sit all assessments afresh. No single form of assessment can be taken into the next assessment period.

What happens once I have successfully completed my assessments?

Candidates who successfully complete their assessments are eligible to be granted accreditation, on payment of the first accreditation fee of $176, (which is 50% of the normal reaccreditation fee).

The Specialist Accreditation Department hosts an annual event to acknowledge the newly accredited specialists and a certificate of accreditation is awarded.

Newly appointed specialists can use the Specialist Accreditation logo and a post nominal for advertising and promotional purposes.

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