How to apply
Our Immigration and Asylum Law Accreditation is a recognised quality standard for practitioners providing advice under a legal aid contract.
To apply for accreditation, you’ll need to:
- meet the eligibility requirements
- submit a detailed application
- pass the relevant examination
Step 1: Read the guidance
Before you begin your application, you must read the:
You must also read the Immigration and Asylum Law Accreditation:
- application guidance notes (PDF 233 KB)
- candidates' guidance (PDF 314 KB)
- examination rules (PDF 231 KB)
Step 2: Complete the mandatory exam
Before you apply for each stage of the accreditation, you must complete and pass the relevant mandatory exam. The exams are administered by the Law Society.
Bookings are now open.
Book your place on Law Society Learning
Exam dates
Dates may be cancelled or postponed in the event of insufficient demand or events outside our control.
The trainee casework assistant exam will be available on-demand from 13 September 2021.
This means that you can sit the exam at a date and time that is convenient for you.
From 13 September 2021 at 10am, you can log onto our Law Society Learning platform to purchase the exam.
You can then access the exam in your My Learning section and take the examination when you are ready. Once you start the exam, you'll have 90 minutes to complete it and you must complete it in one sitting.
What happens if I pass?
If you pass the exam, you will be able to download a certificate immediately. You'll then need to submit an application for accreditation in the usual way.
What if I do not pass?
If you're not successful in passing the examination, you'll need to email Learning@lawsociety.org.uk so we can amend your account and enable you to repurchase the exam and have another attempt.
If your first attempt is unsuccessful, you may attempt the exam for a second time after five working days. However, if your second attempt is also unsuccessful, you must wait at least two months before making any subsequent attempts.
To summarise, the timings for resitting the exam are set out below:
| Attempt number | When examination can be taken |
| One |
On demand at your time of convenience |
| Two |
No earlier than five working days after your first attempt |
| Three and above |
No earlier than two calendar months after your previous attempt |
| Exam dates | Proposed dates for results |
| 4 December 2023 | 29 January 2024 |
| 18 March 2024 | 1 May 2024 |
| 17 June 2024 | 29 July 2024 |
| 16 September 2024 | 28 October 2024 |
| 2 December 2024 | 27 January 2025 |
| Exam dates | Proposed dates for results |
| 17 January 2024 | 31 January 2024 |
| 27 March 2024 | 13 May 2024 |
| 26 June 2024 | 7 August 2024 |
| 25 September 2024 | 6 November 2024 |
| 11 December 2024 | 29 January 2025 |
Read our re-accreditation requirements for senior caseworkers
| Exam dates | Proposed dates for results |
| 11 December 2023 | 30 January 2024 |
| 25 March 2024 | 7 May 2024 |
| 24 June 2024 | 5 August 2024 |
| 23 September 2024 | 4 November 2024 |
| 9 December 2024 | 28 January 2025 |
Read our re-accreditation requirements for senior caseworkers
You should sit the exam for the next stage accreditation before your existing accreditation expires.
However, as an interim measure, you'll retain your accreditation as long as you sit the exam on the first date that the exam is available after your existing accreditation expires, unless you fail the exam.
The new syllabi as set out in the Candidate’s Guidance will be examinable from the December 2022 examinations.
Fees
Registration for the exam costs £51. The fee payable for each exam is set out below:
| Examination | Fee |
| Trainee casework assistant | £180 (excluding VAT) |
| Casework assistant | £420 (excluding VAT) |
| Senior caseworker | £474 (excluding VAT) |
| Supervising senior caseworker | £420 (excluding VAT) |
The registration and exam fees are payable when booking your exam.
Exam format
The format for each exam is as follows:
- trainee casework assistant applicants must complete a multiple choice test
- casework assistant and senior caseworker applicants must complete a written assessment
- supervising senior caseworker applicants must complete a timed assessment
Step 3: Complete the application form
Once you’ve passed the relevant exam, complete the accreditation application form (Word 477 KB).
Step 4: Submit your application
Your completed application is made up of:
- your application form
- confirmation of successfully passing the relevant exam
Do not send files larger than 18 MB. If necessary, send your supporting documents in separate emails.
Submit your application by email
Step 5: Pay the application fee
We’ll send you an invoice when we receive your application.
The initial application fee depends on which stage you’re applying for.
Read about the cost of the Immigration and Asylum Law Accreditation
Step 6: Accreditation
Our accreditation team will review and assess your application.
We’ll let you know the outcome of your application once we’ve received your payment.
The accreditation process takes around six to eight weeks. It can take longer if we receive high volumes of applications or if you do not give us all the information we need.
Appeals
If your application is unsuccessful, we’ll refund your membership fee.
You may appeal against our decision.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the application process, contact our accreditations team.
Call: 020 7320 5797
Email: accreditation@lawsociety.org.uk
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday