Crime tests pay off

Criminal solicitors could be taking specialist exams as soon as the end of the year with the hope of qualifying for enhanced pay increases, as...Criminal solicitors could be taking specialist exams as soon as the end of the year with the hope of qualifying for enhanced pay increases, as part of the next phase of accreditation being introduced by the Law Society.

The criminal accreditation scheme has been set up primarily to help solicitors meet criteria for joining duty solicitor schemes which come into force next month.

Solicitors already registered on police and court duty schemes from 1 February will be automatically passported into the new scheme.

Solicitors wishing to go on duty rotas for the first time will have to attend Law Society approved courses in order to gain accreditation.

Cardiff University Centre for Professional Legal Studies, Central Law Training (CLT) and Datalaw are all Law Society authorised to provide magistrates court accreditation.

Cardiff and CLT have been authorised to provide training for police stations.

Rodney Warren, chairman of the Law Societys criminal law accreditation scheme task force, said the new procedure would be fairer and eradicate variations in differing standards across the county.

The Legal Services Commission welcomed the scheme, with a spokesman saying it had been working closely with Law Society to develop the standards.

Mr Warren said he hoped a second level of accreditation would be rolled out at the end of the year and that the LSC would recognise the higher level of expertise with increased rates.See Notice, page 51Sue Allen