lexcel presention
TRANSCRIPT
Who we are
Centre for Assessment Ltd
We the largest provider of assessment services to the legal sector.We provide assessment Services against the following standards:
Lexcel – Law Society Practice Management StandardSQM – LSC legal aid standardISO9001 – Quality Management StandardISO 1400 – Environmental Management StandardOHSAS 18001– Health & Safety Management StandardISO 27001 – Information Management StandardBS25559 – Business Continuity StandardCustomer Service Excellence Carbon Action
What is LEXCEL
• Lexcel is the Law Society of England and Wales International Practice Management Standard
• Developed specifically for solicitors by solicitors
• Only awarded to those that meet the highest management and customer care standards
• Available to any size or type of practice including in- house legal departments and sole Practitioners
• Recently been revised to enhance it relevance to the legal sector to be more risk focused and provide greater support for Outcome focused regulation(OFR)
How will Practices benefit
• The legal market is increasingly competitive. Meeting demand for improved client service and ensuring regulatory compliance is a continual challenge. Managing and developing a profitable practice, through economic cycles and as new forms of legal service provider enter the market, is likely to become even more challenging for both established and new practices.
• Lexcel is a driver of competitive advantage for your practice.
Benefits
• Effective risk management leading to fewer claims or complaints • Better customer service leading to increased client retention • Lower insurance premiums or favourable treatment from insurers • Improved marketability and competitive advantage • Increased success in tenders and panel reviews • Support with regulatory compliance• Helping to demonstrate best value compliance • Consistency of service from all solicitors and practice groups • Increased profitability • More positive practice culture• Can be combined with other standards eg ISO 9001, Investors in
People, SQM
Benifits Of Gaining Lexcel
Independent research carried out by the Law Society
LEXCEL
• There are currently over 1,000 practices with Lexcel accreditation, ranging from sole practitioners to large law firms, and in-house public sector to commercial legal departments. Over 50% of accredited practices are law firms with less than seven partners, including approximately 100 sole practitioners. Lexcel is currently retained by 97% of initial applicants, some of whom have maintained accreditation for over 10 years.
• Lexcel became available to international firms in 2010 and now has seem firms accredited in Poland and Ireland
Minimise Risk
• Lexcel accreditation could help to cut the cost of your indemnity insurance premiums. Increasingly, indemnity insurers are looking at what risk management procedures are in operation within practices. Lexcel provides the structure to do this since it not only covers the main causes of claims against solicitors, but also includes specific risk management systems and procedures
What insurers say
• 'In any business, having appropriate systems and procedures in place are key to reducing complaints and potential claims resulting in savings in time, worry and expenditure ultimately leading to lower premiums. Lexcel provides an ideal means to achieve these goals.' QBE International Insurance Ltd
• 'Zurich Professional recognises Lexcel as a framework for good management practices. It includes excellent requirements and recommendations for systems and procedures which if complied with consistently and conscientiously throughout the practice should significantly reduce the risk of complaints and claims.‘
• 'Qualifying insurers will increasingly favour those practices which have excellent claims records and a commitment to excellence in the operation of their legal business, including the Lexcel practice management standard.' - Marsh Ltd
• Quotes from Law Society website
What Lexcel Firms say
• 'Our claims record has improved year on year since we introduced the practice management standards, culminating in the award of Lexcel, resulting in a reduction in our insurance bill of approximately 50 to 60 per cent of what we could have expected had the Solicitors Indemnity Fund continued. That should help to persuade even the most cynical partner!‘
• 'We were delighted to hear that our insurer, Royal Sun Alliance, was offering discounts of up to 15 per cent for Lexcel. In our case, we received the full 15 per cent - a saving of some £22,000!’
• “Increasingly, prospective clients are asking what quality standards we have. Lexcel means that our clients can be confident we have a comprehensive quality system which also provides us with a foundation for growth.” Brian Capstick, Capsticks
• “The main reason for achieving Lexcel was for our clients. It is essential that we understand their needs, whether they be corporate clients or private individuals. Our clients need as much assurance and peace of mind as possible.” Rodger Pannone, Pannone & Partners
• “Quality legal services are crucial to the delivery of modern local government. Lexcel helped us to increase quality, reduce costs and improve productivity.” David Parr, Tameside Legal Services
• “It’s rather like having an in-house consultant and there is so much practical guidance. Lexcel helps you manage your work, instead of it managing you.” Fiona Bruce, Fiona Bruce & Co.
• Quotes from Law Society website
Regulatory Compliance
• Lexcel can assist Practices with regulatory compliance against Outcome focused regulations (OFR)
• The Law Society have produced a document with the Overlaps with OFR
What Lexcel Covers
• 1. Structures and Policies
• 2. Strategy, Provision of Services and Marketing • 3. Financial Management • 4. Facilities and IT • 5. People Management • 6. Supervision and Operational Risk Management • 7. Client Care • 8. File and Case Management
How to get started
Decide the route you want to go down either implement the requirements yourself or get outside assistance from approved Lexcel consultants
Some of the things you may wish to consider are :•Different cultures within your practice•What resources you have available•Costs•Timescales
Applying for Lexcel
• Contact us and we will provide you with a quote for the assessment. All we require is your contact details, number of Fee earners, Number of support staff, number of Offices and locations
• The duration of the assessment is determined by the size of your practice
• Return the quote acceptance and we will allocate you an assessor who will contact you to discuss the arrangements for the assessment and book some dates
• Complete the Law Society Application form and send along with supporting documents to the Law Society 3 months before your assessment date
Assessment
• Complete a self assessment checklist and send it to your assessor who will review it at the planning stage.
• Assessor will request some documentation from you in order to carry out a document review and to produce the onsite assessment plan
• An assessment plan will be sent out to you detailing what will happen on the day which will include those that have been selected for interview
• Files covering a range of matters will be selected at random and the assessor will let you know which files they require at the opening meeting
• The assessor will need to visit all your offices as part of the assessment
• Any non compliances will be discussed with you at the end of the assessment . You will have 21 days for minor and 3 months for majors non compliance’s to be addressed
Examples of Documentation
Office ManualBusiness and Marketing Plan Service PlanBusiness Continuity PlanInformation Technology PlanInformation management PolicyEmail policyWebsite Management policySocial Media PolicyTraining and Development planInternet Access PolicyRecruitment PolicyHealth and Safety policyRisk Management policyEquality and Diversity IT Plan
Client Care PolicyHandling of conflicts policyPerformance management policyList of work undertakenOpen & Closed file listList of Counsel and expertsRisk RegisterFile reviewsComplaints registerJob Descriptions and Person Specifications Appraisal recordsTraining Records List of Experts Court Diaries
Certification
• The assessor will make a recommendation for Certification to the Law Society if you are compliant.
• A report of the findings will be sent to the Lexcel Office at the Law Society who will make the final decision this takes approx 4 -6 weeks
• The Lexcel Office will issue the Certificate
Maintaining the standard
• Annual maintenance visits are required in order to maintain your accreditation these are approximately half the duration of your Initial assessment
• A full re assessment is required every 3 years
Contact Details
Kairen Seaton
Centre for Assessment Ltd
6e Mandarin Court
Centre Park,
Warrington WA1 1GG
01925 256650
www.centreforassessment.co.uk
Email: [email protected]