Portal Claims Handler is a personal accreditation status awarded by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. A candidate for Portal Claims Handler status must demonstrate that they meet the Standard of Competence for Portal Claims Handlers. This will involve assessment against the Outcomes of Effective Performance contained within the Standard.

Assessment should be integrated with the normal supervision and management of a fee earner. There is not a separate assessment process, nor is there a requirement to assemble further evidence over and above the Portfolio. Evidence of competent performance will come from the day to day work of the candidate. The judgements required to assess competence, for the purpose of achieving accredited Portal Claims Handler status, are the same judgements that a firm should be making in determining the level of supervision a fee earner requires, and the extent to which they are able to take certain steps in progressing a claim on their own authority.

The Standard, and this guidance, will help assessors take those decisions in a structured, reliable and defensible way, as well as enabling an assessor to certify that a candidate meets the Standard for Portal Claims Handler status.

Standard - overview 

Portal claims handler standard 

Guidance for assessors 

Short note regarding portfolio completion post GDPR 

Expanded note regarding portfolio completion post GDPR