Civil and immigration accreditation

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Accreditation supervisor qualification requirements - July 2011 update
Accreditation scheme - civil and immigration
The Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS)
Further information

Accreditation supervisor qualification requirements –July 2011 update

The LSC will accept individuals who have passed Part One (Core Assignment) of the Resolution Specialist Accredited Scheme as meeting our requirements for qualification as a supervisor for procuring face to face family contracts later this year. For any queries email accreditation@legalservices.gsi.gov.uk

Accreditation scheme - civil and immigration

We set out our proposals for reforming quality assurance in our discussion paper Quality in Legal Aid – SQM Outsourcing (June 2009).

The proposals signalled a change of approach to quality, moving towards a position where the profession takes greater responsibility for demonstrating quality.

Proposals included ending the scheme under which the LSC contributed towards the costs incurred by legal providers in getting their staff accredited where this was required by LSC contracts.

Following consultation, we will continue contributing towards accreditation costs for the time being. However, a more affordable, rational and targeted Accreditation scheme was introduced on 15 November 2010.

Civil and Immigration accreditation scheme from 15 November 2010
Where there is only one route to accreditation, we will pay 50% of the cost. Where there are several acceptable routes to accreditation, we will pay the lowest value of the following: 100% of the cost of the cheapest route or 50% the cost of any more expensive route The contribution is fixed as a percentage of the cost of accreditation as at 1 January 2010.
Family Mediation Council Accreditation Scheme included within the scheme
Law Society Immigration Reaccreditation Scheme included within the scheme
No Clinical Negligence accreditation is covered

The Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS)

Immigration providers must ensure that caseworkers delivering the immigration service are accredited under the Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS)

Accreditation in the IAAS is compulsory for everyone performing publicly funded immigration work.
IAAS is designed to assess that each caseworker possesses both the knowledge of immigration law and procedures. They also need the practical skills required to provide good quality legal services in this category of law.
The contract sets out what level of accreditation caseworkers need to have to conduct certain types of immigration services. For example, only Level 2 caseworkers can conduct a case requiring controlled legal representation.
An immigration supervisor must:
- Be an IAAS Level 2 senior caseworker or Level 3 advanced caseworker
- Have achieved the IAAS supervisor level of accreditation.

Further information

If you have further queries on the accreditation schemes contributions, please email: accreditation@legalservices.gsi.gov.uk.

Last updated: 16 December 2011