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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.
Action for Victims of Medical Accidents (AvMA) 
Smith Partnership's work in the area of clinical negligence has seen us support one of the UK's leading charities for patient safety and justice – Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA). As such, our firm works to provide maximum support to victims of clinical negligence on their road to recovery.
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.
East Midlands Property Dinner 
Our award-winning commercial property department won Client Advisor of the Year 2019 at the East Midlands Property Dinner. This was in recognition of the outstanding support and advice given by Partner Jason Wood in the refurbishment and regeneration of Derby Silk Mill, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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.
Alzheimer’s society: Dementia friends 
There are various members of the Smith Partnership team who are accredited Dementia Friend Champions, including our head of wills and probate, Darren Perry and fellow team member, Lisa Franklin. As part of the initiative, staff from other departments across the firm have taken part in training sessions which have widened their perspectives and equipped them with skills and understanding to support clients and members of the local community dealing with dementia.
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.
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:
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).
Wiselaw Leading Lawyer 
Shameela Chopdat is listed as a Leading Lawyer by Wiselaw.
Burton Albion Football Club 
Operating as Burton Albion Football Club’s legal services partner, we offer help and advice to Burton Albion fans on either a commercial or personal level.
Derby County Football Club 
We are the Legal Services Partner of Derby County Football Club, working closely with them on commercial matters across the footballing and non-footballing sides of their business. We are also delighted to be the club’s preferred partner to offer advice and help to Derby County fans on both commercial and personal matters.
As part of our partnership agreement, Smith Partnership is proud to sponsor the family area in the north-east corner stand at Pride Park Stadium.
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) 
The Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) has been providing a forum for legal professionals working in the area of contentious probate since 1997. Our contentious probate team is a member of the organisation, enhancing our expertise in this specialist field.
Property Litigation Association (PLA) 
Our firm is proud to be a member of the Property Litigation Association (PLA), which brings together legal professionals working across all areas of the specialism. Benefiting from its network for knowledge exchange, our membership helps us to operate at the cutting edge of property litigation.
