What does it take to be an Accredited Specialist?

Why did you undertake Specialist Accreditation?

It was the obvious next step for my career and my professional development as a solicitor.

What did you gain from completing the Program? 

I expanded the breadth and depth of my knowledge in my practice area, which would not necessarily have occurred in day-to-day practice. The Program required me to invest time into strengthening my knowledge and technical skills across my area of practice.

When did you know it was the right time to undertake the Program?

I undertook the Specialist Accreditation program at a stage of my career where I had autonomy in the management of my work but had limited time to refine and deepen my expertise in my area of practice. So to anybody who is considering undertaking the Program, I would say this: when you are at the point of your career where you feel confident with providing advice in relation to the broad range of work that comes across your desk but feel that there are aspects of your knowledge (particularly niche issues) that require deepening, that is the time to undertake the Program. I otherwise note that candidates will need to meet the entry requirements for all individuals who apply to undertake the Program, which includes a requirement to have practised law for 5 years FTE.

What are the benefits of being an Accredited Specialist?

For lawyers who specialise in a practice area, being recognised as an Accredited Specialist is a clear and visible way of distinguishing yourself as a specialist in your area of law. While there are many practitioners who are not accredited and who certainly have expertise in their field, the advantage of being an Accredited Specialist is that it is formally recognised by a reputable program and is identifiable. By way of example, members of the public can search on the Law Society of NSW’s website for practitioners who specialise in an area of law and the search will only return those practitioners who are Accredited Specialists in that area of law.

What does it mean to you to be able to call yourself an Accredited Specialist?

Being recognised as an Accredited Specialist is such a rewarding achievement, particularly as the program is a challenging and rigorous one. I consider successfully completing the Specialist Accreditation program to be a highlight in my career.

How has being an Accredited Specialist impacted your daily practice?

I feel more confident in the advice I provide and in my ability to deal with unforeseen or unique issues. This is a direct result of the technical knowledge I gained whilst undertaking the Program. Even now, several years after completing the Program, I still refer to the notes which I prepared while undertaking the Program.

What is the best advice you would give to someone who is considering undertaking Accreditation?

Do it – but take it seriously. After you submit your application, start planning how you will allocate your time in the months prior to the assessments being due, so you can get through a lot of the reading and be ready to focus on the assessments when they are released. Do not undertake the Program thinking that it can be done with no, or very little, preparation.

What was the best part about participating in the Program?

The study groups. I participated in study groups with other candidates and the discussions we had during those sessions greatly assisted in solidifying my knowledge and understanding of the law. Importantly, the collegiality of those groups helped to make the process of undertaking the Program a lot more enjoyable.

Super Early Bird pricing for this year’s Specialist Accreditation Conference is available until 30 April. For more details and to register, visit here.