(Note: All membership figures correct in September 1996)PERSONAL INJURY PANELQualifications: 3 years post qualification experience (PQE) Assessment: questionnaire on the level of experience Membership: 2547*MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE PANELQualifications: 3 year PQE Assessment: questionnaire on the level of experience Membership: 105*CHILDREN PANELQualifications: 3 years PQE, two one day approved training courses Assessment: application form, references, interview Membership: 1500*MENTAL HEALTH REVIEW TRIBUNAL PANELQualifications: One day approved training course Assessment: application form, interview Membership: 345*PLANNING PANELQualifications: 3 years PQE with 300 hours per year spent on practical planning law work Assessment: application form, Joint Planning Examination unless a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute Membership: 194* Figures correct in September 1996DAVID MYLAN FOUND THAT MEMBERSHIP OF THE MENTAL HEALTH REVIEW TRIBUNAL PANEL HAD VIRTUALLY NO IMPACT ON THE AMOUNT OF WORK COMING TO HIMHaving undertaken a limited amount of casework representing clients at mental health review tribunals (MHRT), I decided in 1992 to apply for membership of the Law Society mental health review tribunal panel.I did so without specific expectations about the benefits membership might bring.

Rather, I wanted to prove to myself that I was serious about developing my interest in this area of law.The hurdles to membership were not onerous and in June 1993 I duly received the Law Society letter informing me of my selection and subsequently a certificate issued by the Society's Council certifying my appointment.My name would now be included in the list of panel members distributed to hospital Mental Health Act administrators and various advice centres.

Once the new edition of the list was circulated I presumed that I would start to receive a steady, if not spectacular, flow of enquiries from potential new clients.My presumption was naive.

In the three and a half years that I have been a member of the panel I have obtained only one client as a consequence of the list being made available to patients.The amount of mental health work I undertake has grown steadily over the last four years and now comprises nearly the whole of my caseload.

I do not believe, however, that membership of the panel has been a significant factor in this development.

Without membership I suspect that I would still have been able to cultivate the same contacts who provide me with referrals and who are probably unaware of my panel membership.The benefit of panel membership as a means of marketing my 'expertise' is minimal.I support the idea of a specialist mental health tribunal panel of lawyers who have shown a special interest in working for a client group that is by definition under a disability and therefore requiring from legal representatives skills and sensitivities rather different from those required by say, commercial clients.I believe, however, that if the panel is to be effective and provide its members with tangible benefits to repay them for the time and money they have spent in becoming members it needs to develop a proactive role.

The provision of the certificate with the Law Society crest appears to be the thing I have to show from panel membership.I am aware from correspondence received in response to a recent article in the panel newsletter that I am not alone in finding that the present benefit arising from membership is limited.The principles underlying the formation of the panel are, in my view, excellent.

But if disillusionment is not to become widespread, particularly if fees for membership are increased, there must be a concerted effort to promote the panel for the benefit of existing members and for the client group they seek to serve.If specialisation is the way forward, as I believe it is, then the Law Society should actively promote the panel list as the preferred choice of selecting representatives at MHRT's for those patients who do not have their own solicitor.BY CONTRAST, IAIN HAMILTON FOUND THAT MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHILDREN PANEL GAVE HIM ACCESS TO WORK WHICH HE WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN DENIED.Panel membership has given me access to work which would otherwise have been denied in relation to the representation of children.Eleven years ago 20% of my caseload was made up of care work.

The balance was an even split of family and crime.

My current caseload of children work is about 90%.

The increase was gradual but leapt to the current percentage in 1990 when I gave up crime.

The demands were incompatible; it was also less profitable and personally less rewarding.A tangible benefit of panel membership has been that guardians ad litem, other solicitors, barristers and the courts often refer to me cases that parents and other parties wish to bring.Panel membership has also resulted in a large number of referrals to undertake private law contact and residence disputes from clients.Panel membership has meant being able to identify people with a common work interest to discuss and share problems with.

A referral network for cases on a national and area basis has also been built up.Advocacy forms a significant part of work in care and related proceedings.

Membership of the panel gave me the opportunity to practise in the High Court as well as the lower courts for a number of years before the advent of rights of audience certificates.Work done in legally-aided care and related proceedings is better remunerated than other legally-aided family work because of the enhanced family rates that can be claimed by panel members.

This is a benefit to any practice.Less obvious has been the opportunity to use panel membership as a 'marketing tool' for my practice in respect of myself and the other five children panel solicitors who make up the core of my firm's family department.Developing a specialist child law practice as a panel member has enabled me to pursue an interest in training which has provided further financial and promotional benefits.

This has been coupled with the challenge and enjoyment of doing something different from daily practice.Children panel solicitors are currently held in high esteem for the quality of service they provide.

This is evident from the Children Act Advisory Committee report 1995/6 and the 1996 'Delay in Children Act Proceedings' report by Dame Margaret Booth.

Such esteem brings a 'feelgood' factor to many child panel members.THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE OF BEING ON THE PERSONAL INJURY PANEL IS MEMBERSHIP OF THE ACCIDENT LINE, WRITES KERRY UNDERWOOD.Membership of the personal injury panel opens the door to membership of the Accident Line referral scheme, allows a firm to use the cheap and simple Accident Line Protect Insurance Scheme for conditional fee cases and is a very valuable marketing tool.With an increasing number of firms offering conditional fees the first free half hour interview which panel members must give clients who are referred to them is an obvious lead in to a conditional fee arrangement.

In addition, access to the Law Society-backed Accident Line Protect Insurance is only open to Members of the personal injury panel.

Comparable insurance for non-members is several times as expensive.However the most valuable but least used aspect of the personal injury panel is as a marketing tool.

Clients, particularly those who have been injured, often feel vulnerable and at the mercy of the system.

Solicitors' cosy view of themselves as caring professionals is often not shared by the public.The guarantee of quality and expertise is crucial.

Clients hope that a personal injury claim is a one-off experience for them and need the reassurance that their solicitor is experienced in this type of law.In my firm's advertising material we stress panel membership.

We mention it in our first letter to any personal injury client and we send out Accident Line appointment cards.

For small firms in particular this membership of a national Law Society specialist panel is of great benefit if properly marketed.As solicitors we know that smaller firms tend to offer a better service to private clients but the clients are not always so sure.

Referral agencies such as the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), police, hospitals and so on, are not always so sure.

The specialist service concept is a far better marketing tool than competing on price in litigation.Membership of the personal injury panel is what you make of it.

Those who join and expect the Law Society to produce a flood of clients will be disappointed, but those who actively use the membership, particularly in conjunction with conditional fees, will flourish.

A solicitor on the panel is essential for any firm wishing to expand its personal injury practice and reputation.MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE PANEL CAN CONFIDENTLY HOLD THEMSELVES OUT AS TRUE SPECIALISTS, ACCORDING TO ASSESSOR ROGER WICKS.The main purpose of the panel is to provide members of the public with reliable information about practitioners who have shown themselves to be both experienced and competent.There is therefore a clear marketing advantage for panel members because they can confidently hold themselves out as being true specialists.

The fact that acceptance onto the panel follows consideration of a detailed application by other practitioners lends all the more weight to the accreditation process.The panel has not yet been launched to the public by means of advertsing but when it is difficult to see why any potential plaintiff in a medical negligence claim should go to any practitioner other than a panel member.Many potential plaintiffs telephone the Law Society for a recommendation and they are always given the names of panel members.

Similarly potential plaintiffs who contact the Accident Line service are also directed towards panel members.There are also opportunities to for panel members to improve standards.

Successful applicants must satisfy the assessors that they are working within a structured environment and have adequate and effective systems for monitoring and supervision; that they have adequate library and other resources; and have a genuine commitment to training.In addition, there are real advantages in relation to legal aid as there are strong arguments for enhanced cost rates for panel members.

Finally, membership of the Panel creates valuable op portunities for networking.