Accreditations
Children Panel
The Law Society has developed the specialised children panel accreditation scheme for solicitors (and others) who specialise in this area. Membership depends on meeting the Law Society’s rigorous standards. Most of our specialist team of Child Care Law solicitors are on this panel.
Resolution Accredited
Resolution is an association of family law practitioners who adhere to a common code. Resolution promotes a constructive approach and the use of dispute resolution methods, such as mediation and collaborative law. Members are bound by Resolution’s Code of Practice, which requires a non-confrontational approach. Our Family Law department has two Resolution accredited solicitors. To achieve such accreditation the solicitors have to go through a rigorous process to be tested on their level of expertise in specialist areas.
www.resolution.org.uk
Family Law Panel
The Law Society has established the Family Law Panel to identify solicitors and legal executives who specialise in family law, and have sufficient experience and knowledge. The Family Law Protocol aims to encourage a constructive and conciliatory approach though narrowing the issues in dispute. It encourages effective and timely resolution to ensure that costs are not unreasonably incurred. Proper regard is given to the interests of the children and long-term family relationships, but risks to the parties and/or the children are minimised, and safety is a primary concern.
Family Law Advanced Panel
The Family Law Advanced Panel is essentially the next stage up from the Family Law Panel and for more experienced Family Law practitioners. We have solicitors on both of these panels.
Higher Court Advocate
Michael Burdett, who is a long standing member of our team and a consultant in the Criminal Law & Fraud department, is a higher court advocate. This is a Law Society accreditation and means that he is qualified to appear in the Crown Court and other higher courts; essentially he has the same Rights of Audience to those of a barrister.
STEP
STEP stands for the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and symbolises a thorough knowledge of the often complex law and tax rules surrounding trusts, estates and inheritance, to those who are members. Nia Jones, the head of our Wills, Probate & Trusts department is a full STEP member. Other members of our team are currently going through the extremely stringent process!