New Accredited Specialists Ceremony 2024

By Wendy Yang - Dec 03, 2024 2:15 pm AEDT

On 2 December, over 110 awardees and guests attended a ceremony held at the Law Society of NSW to celebrate 76 new Accredited Specialists who are recognised for their specialist knowledge and expertise in their respective areas of practice.

To become an accredited specialist, legal practitioners must pass a structured assessment process which requires the practitioner to use their knowledge and skills to show their competency and expertise in their chosen practice area.

Speaking at the ceremony, President of the Law Society of NSW, Brett McGrath recognised the important role of solicitors in providing a service to clients at a difficult point in their lives. “Often, we are dealing with clients at some of their worst points. They come to us looking for guidance through their legal issues, and they rightly pin so much hope on us,” he said.

McGrath also acknowledged the importance of having legal experts in the solicitor profession. “The fact we have legal experts in the solicitor profession – people whose knowledge encompasses extra dimensions – is crucial. But Specialist Accreditation is more than a reason for hope – it is a mark of attainment,” he said.

Chair of the Specialist Accreditation Board and Accredited Specialist in Family Law, Jacqueline Dawson, also spoke at the ceremony. She congratulated the awardees and acknowledged the commitment, dedication, time and effort that goes into obtaining accreditation.

The Accredited Specialisation program has been running for more than three decades and there are only around 1600 Accredited Specialists. This year, 175 candidates were accepted into the program. 138 candidates completed the program across seven areas of law.

In 2024, the number of new Accredited Specialists across each of the practice areas were as follows: