Lexcel Achievement

Our major news is our achievement of the Law Society's legal excellence award, Lexcel, for the third year running. Lexcel was introduced in 1998, and the fact that we were the first firm of solicitors in the city to achieve it indicates the very high standard required. Clients of Lexcel-accredited firms have the reassurance of knowing that they are in the care of staff who are committed to meeting their needs. This means excellent client care and a high standard of case management, including systematic supervision. The achievement of the Lexcel standard also demonstrates that financial arrangements, forward planning and staff training are well managed.

The Law Society uses external assessors. Staff had to demonstrate their knowledge of best practice and how our business works: its systems and people, who is responsible for what within the firm and generally how we operate. After inspecting case files and other records, and interviewing staff and partners at some length, the assessor produced a detailed practice report. Happily, the report concluded that 'the firm has demonstrated that it will be a worthy holder of the Lexcel standard'.

The award was presented to us by Claire Robbie of The Law Society.