How do I maintain my accreditation?

Following your successful completion of the assessment process, to ensure you maintain the highest standards of practice in your specialist areas you are required to apply for re-accreditation every year.

The accreditation year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

To re-accredit each year, you need to:

1. pay the re-accreditation fee of $379.50 inc GST
2. continue to be a member of the Queensland Law Society or a member of an equivalent state or territory body; and
3. hold a current Practising Certificate or be otherwise exempt from holding a current Practising Certificate.
4. maintain a substantial involvement (at least 25% of full time practice) in the area of law in which the accreditation is held; and
5. complete a minimum of 15 CPD points where:
   • a minimum of 10 CPD points must be at an advanced/specialist level in your area of specialty; and
   • a minimum of 5 CPD points in which 3 of these must be in the compulsory core areas of practical legal ethics, practice management and business skills and professional skills.

You must keep a record of your annual CPD points on the Re-accreditation Report template as you may be required to submit this report to the Queensland Law Society upon audit.

How do I know if I will be subject to the Specialist Accreditation CPD Scheme Audit?

If you have been accredited for three years or less, you will be subject to a compulsory audit of your CPD activities requiring you to submit a re-accreditation report.

If you have been accredited for more than three years, you should maintain a record of your CPD activities and be prepared to submit this together with supporting documentation, should you be subject to audit.

On a yearly basis, you will be notified via email as to whether you will be subject to the Specialist Accreditation CPD Scheme Audit.