The Law Society is seeking views on a plan to bolster its criminal litigation quality standard by reaccrediting solicitors every five years.

It has proposed that members of the Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme (CLAS) should undergo a regulatory check every five years involving six hours of CPD and a £240 fee.

At present no reaccreditation is necessary. However, Society president John Wotton said that ?a scheme that is meant to be an indicator of quality cannot be credible in the modern world if those who are accredited are not reassessed regularly to ensure that they remain competent and up to date?.

The ?robust but not all-consuming? scheme must be balanced with the need to avoid unnecessary burdens on practitioners, Wotton added.

?The aim of this is not to create an obstacle to members but to help them bolster their credentials in the eyes of the courts and the public.?

Responses should be emailed to clasconconsultation@lawsociety.org.uk by 17 July.