NOTICE

Law Society notice

Children panel membership

The assessment process for determining membership of the the Law Society's children panel changed from 1 April 2003.

In summary, there are two types of membership available: private practitioner, split into two areas (children representative and adult party representative); and local authority.

For all applications the eligibility and experience criteria remain as previous.

Private practitioner membership - fee of 400 plus VAT (470)

The questionnaire will be marked at first instance by an assessor.

Where applicants achieve a mark of 140 or above with passes in each of the three core areas they will be invited to attend for an interview.

It will be for the assessors at the interview to recommend that applicants be accepted to membership either as a children or adult party representative, or deferred or refused.

Where at first instance the mark awarded is between 100 to 139, the applicant will be deferred for a period of not less than three months and not more than six months.

The marking assessor will make recommendations as to the actions required to enable the applicant to achieve the necessary standard.

Where the mark achieved is 99 or less the application will be refused.

Where the decision is anything other than acceptance full reasons for the decision will be given.

Local authority membership - fee of 200 plus VAT (235)

The questionnaire will be marked by a local authority assessor.

Where applicants achieve a pass mark of 130 or above with passes in each of the three core areas they will be accepted.

If applicants achieve a mark of between 90 and 129 they will be invited to attend for an interview.

Where the mark achieved is 89 or lower applications will be refused.

Where the decision is anything other than acceptance full reasons for the decision will be given.

Revised information packs are available by either contacting the Society's information services team, tel: 01527 50 44 33, or by visiting the panels Web site at www.panels.lawsociety.org.uk.

All applications after 30 April 2003 must be made using the revised questionnaire.