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Family Law Accreditation as a Specialist Family Lawyer
Anthony was accredited by the Law Society of Western Australia as a Family Law specialist in 1994.
The practice of law is a complex business and it is very difficult for one lawyer to be proficient in all areas of the law. In various States, including Western Australia, Law Societies have recognised this and have devised schemes for practitioners with expertise in Family Law to become accredited specialists.
To qualify as an accredited specialist in Family Law in Western Australia a lawyer must:
- Demonstrate a high standard of ability and experience in Family Law
- Have at least five years experience in Family Law
- Have at least twenty five percent of his or her practice devoted to Family Law
- Have complied with one of the requirements for accreditation in that he or she must pass a written examination which tests his or her knowledge of Family Law. The examination covers:
- Divorce procedures
- Property settlement
- Jurisdiction of the Court
- Costs
- Child welfare matters
- Court practice and procedure
- Residence and contact
- Child and spousal maintenance
- Taxation
- Superannuation
- De facto relationships
- Knowledge of pensions, Social Security and Legal Aid requirements are also covered
To remain an accredited Family Law Specialist a lawyer is required to keep up to date with developments in the law and must prove each year that he or she has continued to keep up to date with developments by attending compulsory continuing legal education. This shows that the lawyer maintains the required high level of involvement in the jurisdiction.
Only those solicitors who have the requisite experience, have passed the exam and kept up to date with developments in the law may describe themselves as accredited Family Law Specialists. They obtain certificates which a client is entitled to look at to confirm that they have current qualification as an accredited Family Law Specialist.