Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) is an independent charity working on behalf of people who have suffered an accident while undergoing medical care. The charity argues that such people "deserve explanations, support, and where appropriate, compensation", and therefore maintains a referral panel of trusted lawyers that it will recommend as specialists in clinical negligence.

A solicitor who wants to join this panel must demonstrate high levels of knowledge, training and experience within medical negligence law. This includes a requirement for all applicants to the panel to have spent at least three years working on behalf of claimants in firms with a specialisation in this area, to have had a majority of claims in their caseload, and to have experience in settling claims for damages in excess of £100,000.

Furthermore, the charity specifies in its eligibility criteria that it seeks lawyers whose prime motive is to serve the victims of clinical negligence, in accordance with its charitable objectives. This means that a law firm that has a member of AvMA's referral panel in its clinical negligence team is certain to have attained levels of excellence in the pursuit of its clients' needs.

Membership also demands continuing excellence. The requirement to renew membership every five years means that victims of medical accidents can rely on firms with referral-panel members to remain committed to the levels of client care and legal ability they need.

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