What is Specialist Accreditation?

Our Legal Director, Sam Slack-Smith is an Accredited Specialist in Property Law. We are often asked what this means. This article is intended to answer the frequently asked questions we receive about this.

What is Specialist Accreditation?

The Law Society of NSW operates the Specialist Accreditation Scheme to help the general public identify solicitors who have expertise in a particular area of law.

Solicitors who fulfil the requirements of the Scheme are entitled to use, after their name, the words ‘Accredited Specialist’ in the nominated area of practice. 

Only individual solicitors can be Accredited Specialists, not firms.

How does a solicitor become an Accredited Specialist?

To become an Accredited Specialist a solicitor must have practised law full-time for at least five years and worked in their area of legal specialty for at least three years.

To gain status as an Accredited Specialist a solicitor must pass the Law Society’s rigorous assessments in communication, problem solving, client relations and, of course, their specialist area of law.

To maintain their status as an Accredited Specialist, a solicitor must annually renew their accreditation to practise the law and membership of the Law Society, plus ensure they maintain their high level skills and knowledge by completing additional professional development points.

Why should I use an Accredited Specialist?

When you choose an Accredited Specialist in Property Law you can be confident that the solicitor you engage is an expert. In our view, the better that a solicitor understands their area of law, the better equipped they are to solve clients’ legal matters.

We often relate this to medicine - general practitioners can take care of everyday matters, but it is specialists who are better placed to handle more complex or challenging issues. 

If you required the services of an Accredited Specialist in Property Law, please don’t hesitate to contact Sam Slack-Smith on 4962 4000 or sam@slack-smithlegal.com.au.

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