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Accreditations
At Smith Partnership, we strive to always provide an excellent service beyond the standards of our clients, ourselves and the industry. Client care and satisfaction underpin everything we do - which is why we are proud to have been recognised by these reputable accreditations.
Sight Support Derbyshire 
Approved Provider status is achieved by training our staff in how to provide quality services to people with a visual impairment. The training consists of the following:
- Understanding eye conditions and the impact of sight loss
- Meeting, greeting and supporting someone with a visual impairment
- Assisting and guiding a person with sight loss
- How to recognise someone with a visual impairment
- Practical demonstration highlighting the effects of sight loss
- Key information about sight loss relating directly to attendees on individual courses
- Personal experiences of those living with sight loss
Sight Support Derbyshire is very happy to recommend the services of Smith Partnership to anyone with a visual impairment.
Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) 
Victoria Townsend is a fully registered member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) which is an association for expert legal professionals who specialise in Contentious Trusts & Probate matters. This accreditation signifies a level of specialism and expertise in relation to disputed estates and trusts, meaning that we are fully equipped to advise and act on your behalf in relation to such claims.
Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) 
Our personal injury team is supported by membership of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), a not-for-profit organisation advocating the rights of injured people across the UK. Alongside thousands of fellow members, Smith Partnership is helping to improve the services available to those affected by personal injury.
STEP 
STEP is a global professional body, comprising lawyers, accountants, trustees and other practitioners that help families plan for their futures.
Full STEP members, known as TEPs, are internationally recognised as experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience.
Our experts who have the STEP accreditation are as follows:
Wiselaw Leading Lawyer 
Shameela Chopdat is listed as a Leading Lawyer by Wiselaw.
Association of Lifetime Lawyers 
Lifetime Lawyers are the gold standard when it comes to supporting vulnerable and older people with legal advice. They help deliver the best outcomes for clients of all ages who are facing important life decisions, including those with complex needs and who may need extra support.
To become a fully accredited member you need to Take the Lifetime Care in Practice (LCP) Award. This qualification helps develop the client care skills needed to work with older and vulnerable clients, be at least 3 years PQE and also take the Lifetime Law in Practice award and re-accredit every 5 years.
Our experts who have the Lifetime Lawyers accreditation are as follows:
Employment Lawyers Association (ELA) 
James Johnson and Katie Bullimore are members of the Employment Lawyers Association (ELA). The Employment Lawyers Association (ELA) represents the views and interests of qualified employment lawyers in the UK. The members are drawn from all branches of the legal profession and include barristers and solicitors who act for employers and employees, trade unions, the voluntary sector, industry and the judiciary.
Lexcel 
Lexcel is the Law Society’s practice management standard. It is a scheme for any type of practice to certify that certain standards have been met following independent assessment. The Lexcel practice management standard is only awarded to solicitors who meet the highest management and customer care standards. Lexcel accredited practices undergo rigorous independent assessment every year to ensure they meet required standards of excellence in areas such as client care, case management and risk management.
The Law Society 
Smith Partnership has a number of solicitors who are accredited by the Law Society as specialists in their chosen fields. These are: Conveyancing, Family Law, Family Law Advanced, Personal Injury and Children Law. The Law Society operates accreditation schemes in order to:
- Promote high standards in legal service provision
- Ensure that consumers are easily able to identify legal practitioners with proven competency in given areas of law
- Help consumers to make informed choices
- Offer solicitors and firms the use of a recognisable brand
- Provide information for courts, statutory bodies and other professionals
- Ensure that scheme members maintain relevant standards of competency and expertise, by means of periodic reselection, re-accreditation and re-authorisation
Membership of Law Society accreditation schemes is voluntary. The expertise of scheme members in a given area of law has been verified, and their accomplishment is recognised by the Law Society.
Resolution 
The cornerstone of membership of Resolution is adherence to the Code of Practice, which sets out the principles of a non-confrontational approach to family law matters. The principles of the code are widely recognised and have been adopted by the Law Society as recommended good practice for all family lawyers.
Resolution was formerly known as the Solicitors Family Law Association (SFLA).
