Family Mediation Accreditation Scheme

accreditation scheme logo

Scheme membership

There are two levels of membership:

Select a type of member from the list below to learn what they can do and how they become scheme members.

General member

Practitioner member

If you are interested in becoming a scheme member, select one of the types of membership above to learn more.

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

General members

What can general members do?

General membership of the Family Mediation Accreditation Scheme is for a one-off, two-year period. It is a stepping stone to practitioner membership for solicitors and legal executives who lack the experience required to apply directly for practitioner membership.

At some point during their two-year period as general members, they must apply to become practitioner members.

All mediators who belong to the scheme have successfully completed an SRA-approved training course.

Non-members of the scheme are not barred in any way from working in mediation. However, mediators who belong to the SRA's Family Mediation Accreditation Scheme are guaranteed to have achieved a given level of competence; they have also agreed to abide by our code of practice.

How are general members assessed?

All members have

How can solicitors and legal executives become general members?

If you are a solicitor or legal executive and are interested in becoming a general member of the Family Mediation Accreditation Scheme, please download

The documents above contain comprehensive information on how to apply and on the conditions of membership.

After reading them, you should download, complete and submit an application form (PDF 33K) for Family Mediation Accreditation Scheme applicants (general membership).

Practitioner member

What can practitioner members do?

Practitioner members are trained and experienced family mediators who can take the lead in all-issues mediations.

The SRA has defined essential competencies and established a code of practice for family mediators. All scheme members have agreed to abide by these rules.

Mediators who are scheme members have successfully completed an SRA-approved training course.

Non-members of the scheme are not barred in any way from working in mediation.

How are practitioner members assessed?

All members have

How can solicitors and legal executives become practitioner members?

There are three routes to practitioner membership.

Passported route

The passported route (PDF 52K) is open to solicitors and FILEX who have successfully completed the Legal Services Commission's family mediation competence assessment, and have been recognised as competent in all issues.

Development route

The development route (PDF 52K) involves solicitors and legal executives first becoming a general member. They subsequently have a maximum of two years in which to achieve the level of expertise required to become a practitioner member.

Direct route

The direct route (PDF 52K) is for solicitors and legal executives who are already trained and experienced family mediators but have chosen not to join the Legal Services Commission's scheme. In effect, the applicant "skips" the general membership period.

If you are a solicitor or legal executive and are interested in becoming a practitioner member of the Family Mediation Accreditation Scheme, please download

The above documents contain comprehensive information about applying for practitioner membership. After reading them, you should download, complete and submit the appropriate application form:

Resolution—first for family law

More than 5,000 solicitors belong to Resolution—first for family law (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.

Law Society Dispute Resolution Section

The Law Society Dispute Resolution Section focuses on all areas of dispute resolution including arbitration, litigation and mediation. Law sections are representative membership associations offering CPD training and best practice information and advice.

Accreditation scheme logos

The SRA operates a dedicated website for scheme members, providing secure access to the Family Law Accreditation Scheme logo.

Code of practice

Family Mediation Accreditation Scheme members are bound by the Law Society's code of practice for family mediation (PDF 52K), which has been adopted by the SRA.

Failure to comply with the code may result in disciplinary action.

The code deals with the fundamentals of family mediation, but it doesn't cover every situation that may arise.

The code covers many aspects of mediation work:

Continuing professional development

The SRA requires all Family Mediation Accreditation Scheme members to familiarise themselves with changes in law, practice and procedure—by undertaking continuing professional development (CPD) training in each year of their period of scheme membership. The amount of training that members must undertake depends upon their level of membership.

As part of the re-accreditation process, we will require you to supply details of training you have completed during your period of membership.

General member requirements

General members of the Family Mediation Accreditation Scheme must complete a minimum of 11 hours per year of CPD training in family mediation issues.

Practitioner member requirements

Practitioner members must complete a minimum of eight hours of CPD training per year, consisting of

Re-accreditation

Practitioner membership will usually be valid for an initial period of three years; members will normally be subject to re-accreditation at the end of the period. However, a re-accreditation process is not yet in place. We plan to decide what form re-accreditation will take and to publish full details during 2008. Practitioner memberships will remain valid until the re-accreditation process is decided and implemented.