The Criminal Law Solicitors Association (CLSA) this week said it had received a clear signal from the Legal Services Commission (LSC) that it would not back compulsory re-accreditation for defence solicitors.

CLSA director Rodney Warren said the LSC - which pays for much of the current accreditation training costs of duty solicitors - had shown no sign of supporting a second process of accreditation proposed by the Law Society Regulation Board (see [2006] Gazette, 1 June, 1).


He added that unless the LSC wanted re-accreditation in addition to peer review, then the board's proposed scheme would only be voluntary.


An LSC spokesman confirmed that the commission is 'currently considering the implications of experienced, "passported" scheme members undergoing re-accreditation at the same time as dealing with the high level of change currently facing criminal solicitors'. He said the LSC would clarify its position as soon as possible.


Antony Townsend, chief executive of the Regulation Board, said: 'We have not heard of any decision by the LSC. This announcement [by the CLSA] may be premature in view of discussions we are due to have with the LSC and the outcome of the Carter review.'


Law Society President Kevin Martin said: 'In the light of the LSC's preferred supplier programme.... the Society is pleased that remaining on the criminal litigation accreditation scheme will be voluntary.'


Rachel Rothwell