Children Panel

Scheme membership

There are three types of Children Panel Accreditation Scheme members:

Applying for scheme membership

If you wish to apply for membership of the Children Panel Accreditation Scheme, you are required also to apply for enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). We will provide you with a CRB enhanced disclosure application form and detailed instructions on how to apply.

If you are interested in becoming a scheme member, choose the type of member you'd like to become from the options above for further details.

If you are already a member, view information about maintaining membership, known as re-accreditation.

If you are a Children Panel Accreditation Scheme member and wish to change your type of membership, you need to follow certain procedures. If you are a scheme member and wish to transfer your membership from local authority representative to private practice (or vice versa), please download and submit a transfer of scheme membership form (PDF, 39kb). If you are already an adult party representative and wish to work as a children representative, download and submit a conversion of membership to children representative form (PDF, 36kb).

Children Panel Accreditation Scheme members must be familiar with and abide by the contents of the guidance in Representation of children in public law proceedings.

If you have any queries about scheme membership requirements, contact the Accreditation Unit (t: 0870 606 2566).

Useful links

Children law

Law Society online resources for children law practitioners include publications, policy documents and event announcements.

CAFCASS

The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) safeguards and promotes the welfare of children involved in family court proceedings.

NAGALRO

The National Association of Guardian Ad Litems and Reporting Officers (NALAGRO) provides information for young children about court proceedings and the role of Children's Guardians.

Resolution – first for family law

More than 5,000 solicitors belong to Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association, or SFLA). Resolution members are committed to promoting a non-confrontational atmosphere in which family law matters are dealt with in a sensitive, constructive and cost-effective way.

Accreditation scheme logos

The Law Society has a dedicated website for accreditation scheme members which offers secure access to the Children Law Accreditation Scheme logo.

Family Law Protocol

Download or order the latest version of the Family Law Protocol.

Association of Lawyers for Children (ALC)

The ALC works in England and Wales, and welcomes all applications for membership from individuals in relevant work with or for children. In addition, applications from officers of appropriate organisations will be considered.

Children representatives

What can children representatives do?

Children representatives act for children in all proceedings where there is provision to do so under:

  • the Children Act 1989
  • the Adoption Act 1976
  • the Adoption and Children Act 2002

Children representatives can also represent parents, grandparents and other adult parties in public law proceedings under the Children Act 1989.

Children representatives work in private practice.

How are children representatives assessed?

To become a children representative, you must have:

  • a minimum of three years' experience as a solicitor/FILEX
  • attended a three-day training course run by an approved provider
  • submitted an application covering all aspects of children law practice (applications are graded by independent practitioners)
  • been interviewed by two assessors
  • been the subject of a Criminal Records Bureau check.

Every five years you must renew your scheme membership under the re-accreditation process.

How can practitioners become children representatives?

If you are interested in becoming a children representative, please download:

Adult party representatives

What can adult party representatives do?

Adult party representatives can represent adult parties in public law proceedings under the Children Act 1989.

Adult party representatives are experienced in such cases in representing:

  • parents
  • grandparents
  • other adult parties

They also have experience in private law proceedings under the Children Act 1989 and the Adoption Act 1976.

Adult representatives work in private practice.

How are adult party representatives assessed?

In order to become an adult party representative, you must have:

  • a minimum of three years' experience as a solicitor/FILEX
  • attended a three-day training course run by an approved provider
  • submitted an application covering all aspects of children law practice (applications are graded by independent practitioners)
  • been interviewed by two assessors.

Every five years you must renew your scheme membership under the re-accreditation process.

How can practitioners become adult party representatives?

If you are interested in becoming an adult party representative, please download:

Local authority representatives

What can local authority representatives do?

Local authority representatives are permitted to represent local authorities in public law proceedings under the Children Act 1989.

How are local authority representatives assessed?

In order to become a local authority representatives, you must have:

  • a minimum of three years' experience as a solicitor/FILEX
  • attended a three-day training course run by an approved provider
  • submitted an application covering all aspects of children law practice (applications are graded by independent practitioners).

Every five years you must renew your scheme membership under the re-accreditation process.

How can practitioners become local authority representatives?

If you are interested in becoming a local authority representative, please download:

Re-accreditation

Scheme membership doesn't last for ever: every five years it must be renewed. The process is called re-accreditation.

Re-accreditation is a way of assuring consumers that members of the Children Panel Accreditation Scheme always meet the requirements for membership.

All solicitors must undertake appropriate training and development activities every year, as stipulated by the SRA's continuing professional development requirements.

Please contact the Accreditation Unit for information about re-accreditation.