Accreditations

A number of our specialist children’s solicitors are members of the children’s panel. To become accredited members we have demonstrated that we have a high level of competence and knowledge in cases involving children, and in representing children in proceedings. We work to a high standard and we conduct our cases abiding by the Law Society’s Code of Practice for Children Law.

We are delighted to have been awarded membership of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS).  Launched by the Law Society, in 2011, the CQS is in place to provide a recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practices. The CQS is supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the Building Societies Association and the Association of British Insurers.

To gain membership we had to show that we meet the high standard required by the Law Society to ensure that we give clients a professional and quality conveyancing service.  This standard will be constantly monitored by means of compulsory training, self reporting, random audits and annual reviews in order to maintain our CQS status.

• What you can expect from us
• When you contact us to discuss your sale or purchase we will explain clearly the steps in the process and what you can expect from your solicitor.
• We will tell you what the cost will be
• ​We will keep you informed of progress in your sale or purchase
• We will work in line with the quality standards of the Law Society’s CQS

We will:

• Treat you fairly.
• Be polite and professional.
• Respond promptly to your enquiries.
• Tell you about any problems as soon as we are aware of them.
• Ask for your feedback on our service.
• If you want to complain about a solicitor, please ask for details of our firm’s complaints procedure.

Freemans are members of the Law Society’s Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme, which covers all types of criminal law work.

To gain membership we have shown, to the satisfaction of the Law Society and through external examination, that we have and will maintain a high level of knowledge, skills, experience and practice in the area of criminal litigation.

The Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme is designed to enable solicitors, barristers and fellows of the Institute of Legal Executives (FILEX) to qualify to apply for inclusion on local duty solicitor rotas under the Legal Services Commission’s Criminal Defence Service Duty Solicitor Arrangements 2001.

Nina Hansen has been a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers since 2016. The International Academy of Family Lawyers is a worldwide association of family practitioners who have received special recognition for the depth of their knowledge, experience and skill in matters involving family law.

Resolution, which was formerly known as the Solicitors Family Law Association (SFLA), is an organisation of approximately 6,500 lawyers in England and Wales, who believe in a constructive, non-confrontational approach to family law matters.  Resolution also campaigns for improvements to the family justice system.

Resolution supports the development of family lawyers through its national and regional training programmes, through publications and good practice guides and through its accreditation scheme. Resolution also trains and accredits mediators and is the only body providing training and support for collaborative lawyers in England and Wales.

Encouraging good practice

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.

The code requires lawyers to deal with each other in a civilised way and to encourage their clients to put their differences aside and reach fair agreements.

What makes Resolution lawyers special?

Because Resolution members abide by the Code of Practice which emphasises a constructive approach to family problems and which encourages solutions that take into account the needs of the whole family and the best interests of any children.

Resolution is committed to developing and promoting best standards in the practice of family law and explores and promotes other ways of resolving family disputes, such as mediation and collaborative law, so that couples have alternatives to going to court.

In over 90% of cases handled by Resolution lawyers, agreements are reached without the court having to make the final decision.

All solicitors in our family department are members of Resolution. There are solicitors within our department that are Resolution accredited specialists in particular areas of family practice such as international child abduction, cohabitation, private law and adoption.