APIL accreditation provides a quality mark of competence and specialist expertise
for solicitors and counsel dealing with personal injury claims. This quality
mark helps the consumer to recognise expertise and specialisms within the profession.
The accreditation scheme demonstrates that an APIL lawyer has achieved a specific
standard.
Accredited members can download the quality marks here.
The APIL accreditation scheme is built on standards of occupational competence. Standards of occupational competence are widely used in many fields of employment. They are based on an analysis of the main functions of a job, and state what it is the job holder must be able to do to perform effectively. That analysis enables an identification of the knowledge, understanding, know-how, skill and behaviour required for effective performance.
"Thank you... I am pleased that people are using your specialist group to find accredited lawyers."
The standards are business tools, best used for developing staff, but can be used
for recruitment and promotion. In APIL’s case the standards are being used as entry
to the accreditation scheme and for the development of CPD training programmes.
Applications
Which level should I apply for?
The Portal claims handler and Litigator Standards are to be used as development tools for APIL members. When evidence satisfying all criteria for each particular standard has been provided, successful applicants will be issued with an APIL certificate of achievement.
Only Senior Litigators, Fellows and Senior Fellows are promoted to injured people and are eligible to apply for specialist or corporate accreditation. Accredited Portal claims handlers and Litigators aspiring to these levels should work through the Portfolio (with a view to upgrade) providing evidence of competence in each function as and when it is/becomes available.
Guidance
Full information and guidance covering the three main levels of litigator, senior litigator and fellow can be found here: General guidance
Specialist accreditation
APIL has also developed competency standards for six specialist areas – brain injury,
clinical negligence, spinal cord injury, occupational disease, asbestos disease, accident & illness abroad and fatal accidents.
These schemes are open to members holding Senior Litigator status (or above), with
demonstrated competence in these fields. The schemes require assessment of an applicant’s
work, by reference to cases handled, in a manner similar to that used in the new
schemes for personal accreditation as Litigator, Senior Litigator and Fellow.
Further information, guidance, and the application documents for all the above specialist levels of accreditation can be found here -
brain injury,
clinical negligence,
spinal cord injury,
occupational disease,
asbestos disease,
accidents and illnesses abroad and
fatal accidents.
Training requirements
Individually accredited members must accrue 16 hours of APIL accredited personal injury CPD training annually - Find out how to accrue APIL accredited CPD.
Members who have achieved specialist status must accrue 8 hours (50% of the requirement) of APIL accredited personal injury CPD training annually in each field.
You can report CPD to APIL by completing your online training log or downloading a
training log form.
Areas of work
Accredited members may amend their areas of expertise at any time through the members’
area of www.apil.org.uk by clicking on
My details.
Revalidation
All individually accredited members need to revalidate their accreditation status.
Revalidation of an individual’s accreditation status is required every 5 years.
Full details can be found on the Revalidation for individuals page.
*Portal claims handlers do not appear in the online 'Find an injury lawyer' search.