SFE is the leading training and best practice organisation for lawyers who specialise in older and vulnerable clients.

Our aim is to provide practical advice, knowhow and best practice for working lawyers and much more besides.

We are a passionate crowd. We have a passion for excellence, for serving our clients and for helping each other.

Membership of SFE demonstrates your commitment to serve your clients in the best way you possibly can. It signifies your commitment to high professional standards, a passion for continuing professional development, but more than your technical ability, it signifies your dedication to help, serve and care for your older and vulnerable clients through understanding, empathy and an array of soft skills you can deploy to help your clients achieve the best possible outcomes.

As you can imagine at SFE, you’ll have access to the highest levels of training and best practice brought to you by leading experts, all the latest news, views and alerts, latest case information, analysis and practice tips, newsletters, discussion forums,  regional meetings, webinars and ask the expert chats, not to mention podcasts,  help with marketing communications and PR. All this included in your membership fee!

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Unexpected side effects of membership include...

 

Growth

of your self-confidence... as you build your expertise, knowledge and know how

Belonging

to the SFE family - our close-knit community

Significance

as you make a difference to the lives of older people and their families

Accomplishment

and achievement that you have become SFE accredited

Entry-level memberships

There are two pathways into SFE membership - as a practising lawyer (professional pathway) or as a trainee lawyer (student pathway). If you have recently qualified and are new to older client law, we recommend that you join at the student member level and complete the SFE student programme, before upgrading to associate membership.

In order to keep to the highest standards, we are selective in who can join us. Please do check our eligibility criteria below, before you start your application. 

NB: Membership to SFE is purely for individuals. We don’t offer firm memberships.

Accreditation pathway

We expect all our members to move through SFE’s membership levels to become SFE accredited. This is because we want to ensure all our members are able to advise clients to the very highest of standards before recommending them to the public. As such, we only showcase our accredited members to the public.

For more information on the full accreditation pathway, click here.

Associate
(Professional)

Only the following individuals are eligible to apply to join as an Associate Member:

  • Fully qualified solicitors holding a valid and current practising certificate and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or Law Society of Scotland (LSS)
  • Fully qualified barristers holding a valid and current practising certificate and regulated by the Bar Council
  • Fellows of CILEx holding a valid and current practising certificate and regulated by CILEx
  • Scottish Registered Paralegals with at least 3 years’ registration as a paralegal with the LSS 
 

I qualify. Join now!

Student

Only the following individuals are eligible to apply to join as a Student:

  • Trainee Solicitors
    • You are currently a trainee solicitor
    • You are already part way down the traditional qualifying route, ie you are undertaking your LPC and intend to take the SQE2
    • You hold any degree or level 6 equivalent and are studying for your SQE1 & 2 exams
  • Pupils (Barristers)
  • Affiliate, Associate or Graduate members   
    of CILEx who have completed the following units (or equivalent):
    • CILEx Level 3 Unit 1 Introduction to Law and Practice
    • CILEx Level 3 Unit 8 Law of Wills and Succession
    • CILEx Level 3 Unit 15 The Practice of Law for the Elderly Client
    • CILEx Level 3 Unit 16 Client Care Skills
    • CILEx Level 3 Unit 17 Legal Research Skills

I qualify. Join now!

Membership benefits

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

STUDENT MEMBERS

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

FULL ACCREDITED MEMBERS

Business referrals

 

 

Use of the accredited logo

 

 

Profile page

 

 

Appear on SFE public searches for specialists

 

 

PR packs for use locally in line with national campaigns

 

 

Eligibility to serve as a director of SFE

 

 

Opportunity to be a spokesperson for SFE

 

 

Being part of the SFE community

Help, support and advice during & beyond COVID

Monthly newsletter

News alerts on important developments & changes

Frequently updated, topical website

E-shots for up to the minute briefings

Recognised accredited qualifications

 

Certificates for attaining the SFE accredited awards

 

SFE student programme

All SFE training courses free to members

Annual National Conference

Webinar series

Online live discussions with experts

New normal podcast & webinars

Automatic regional group membership

Diary of SFE events regionally, nationally and online

SFE proprietary Best Practice Guides

Access to SFE members’ database with contact details

Advertising on SFE website to recruit staff

Free factsheets (for use with your clients)

Purchase SFE publications such as leaflets

Contact details for industry experts on the website

Links to relevant websites

Knowledge Hub – repository of cases and analysis

SFE Forum - a lively debating area

Discounts on external training

Discounts on legal publications

SFE representation with key industry groups

Part of the huge national SFE PR coverage

For more information on the various membership levels through the SFE accreditation pathway, click here.

Associate

Joining fees: £250
Annual fees: £295

I qualify. Join now!

Student

Joining fees: £0
1st year fees: £200
Subsequent years: £100

I qualify. Join now!