About Specialist Accreditation

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 and serves as a recognisable means of differentiation. 

To be an Accredited Specialist, a practitioner must pass a structured assessment process which requires the individual to draw on their existing knowledge and skills to demonstrate their competency and expertise in their chosen area of law. Learn more.

CHANGE TO SPECIALIST ACCREDITATION YEAR

The Council of the Law Society and the Specialist Accreditation Board have resolved that the Law Society align the Specialist Accreditation year with the Practising Certificate/Solicitor Membership year, and that the Law Society align the Specialist Accreditation CPD year with the Uniform Law CPD year.  Going forward, the Specialist Accreditation year will run from 1 July to 30 June each year, instead of 1 May to 30 April.  

To facilitate the first year of the transition, your current accreditation will automatically be validated until 30 June 2025 at no additional cost.  Thereafter renewals will occur on 1 July each year, with applications for renewal due by 30 June each year.  Specialists will be able to complete their Specialist Accreditation renewal at the same time as their PC/SM renewal.

The Specialist CPD year will end on 31 March each year. This means you need to have completed your Specialist Accreditation CPD by this date.  
We will offer all specialists a grace period in 2025 given the change, so you will have until 30 April 2025 to complete this if needed. 

If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact our team at specialists@lawsociety.com.au or call us on 9926 0305.
Further information will be available closer to the 2025 renewal period.