Crime accreditation

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Revised accreditation scheme
LSC accreditation requirements
Development of new accreditation panels
Further information

Revised accreditation scheme

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 supervisors and/or caseworkers accredited where this was required by LSC contracts.

Following consultation, we agreed to continue contributing towards accreditation costs for the time being. However, we proposed a revised scheme (taking effect from the start of 2010 contracts) that will be more affordable, rational and targeted than the previous arrangements.

Crime accreditation from 2010
We will pay 50% of the cost of Law Society Crime accreditations. The contribution is fixed as a percentage of the cost of accreditation as at 1 January 2010.

Crime accreditation from 2010

We will pay 50% of the cost of Law Society Crime accreditations.

The contribution is fixed as a percentage of the cost of accreditation as at 1 January 2010.

Crime accreditation - previous scheme
The value of contributions was typically set at 100% of the cost of accreditation at the time when it was brought within the contribution scheme, with some exceptions. This meant very little consistency between the amounts paid under different schemes.

Crime accreditation - previous scheme

The value of contributions was typically set at 100% of the cost of accreditation at the time when it was brought within the contribution scheme, with some exceptions.

This meant very little consistency between the amounts paid under different schemes.

LSC accreditation requirements

Supervisors and most duty solicitors must be members of the Law Society Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme (CLAS). This comprises 2 qualifications:
Police Station Accredited Rep (PSAR) or PSQ, and Magistrates’ Court Qualification (MCQ).

Police station representatives must hold the PSAR or PSQ.

Development of new accreditation panels

The Law Society is currently developing a reaccreditation scheme for CLAS. Once the reaccreditation process has been developed, we will decide whether to include it within the contribution scheme.

Further information

If you have further queries on the accreditation schemes contributions, please send an email to accreditation.

Last updated: 10 August 2010