Cost of Employment Law Solicitor
across the UK

# Employment Law Solicitor Accreditation

In the UK, employment law solicitors are primarily regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which is the statutory body responsible for authorizing and disciplining all solicitors. Beyond SRA authorization, solicitors can pursue additional accreditation through the Law Society's Practice Standards and Specialism recognition, including their specialist panels for employment law. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) also offers recognized professional qualifications that employment law practitioners often pursue to demonstrate deeper expertise. Some firms may also hold recognition through specialist legal networks like the Employment Lawyers Association (ELA) or seek quality marks such as Lexcel accreditation, which validates general legal practice standards across financial management and client care. Understanding these bodies helps you identify which firms have committed to continuing professional development and adherence to higher practice standards beyond the mandatory SRA requirements.

To verify an employment law solicitor's credentials, you should first check their individual SRA record on the SRA's register at sra.org.uk, which confirms they are authorized and in good standing. You can then investigate whether they hold specialist accreditation by asking them directly or checking their website for Law Society specialism badges or ELA membership. It is also worth requesting evidence of professional indemnity insurance and any complaints history, which the SRA register will flag if serious issues have occurred. Verification matters because it protects you from unqualified practitioners and provides recourse through the Legal Ombudsman should something go wrong; accredited or recognized solicitors are held to higher standards and more rigorous oversight, reducing your risk significantly.

Accredited employment law solicitors typically charge 10 to 20 percent more than non-accredited solicitors, reflecting the additional training, compliance costs, and quality assurance they maintain. While this premium may seem steep, it often proves worthwhile because accredited