Lexcel is the Law Society’s legal practice quality mark for client care, compliance and practice management.  It suits any size of legal practice and any type of work – there is a separate framework for in-house legal departments, too.  It can be, and frequently is, awarded to smaller firms or sole practitioners as well as medium-sized and larger firms.  
 

How is it achieved? 

It provides a framework for firms to meet and aims to set the standard for:

• client care
• risk management
• people management
• structure and strategy
• financial management
• information management
• file and case management

Firms must apply to the Law Society and undergo an independent audit, which includes checking that the requirements of the framework are met, but also that they are achieved in practice – there are interviews with managers, qualified staff, and a wide range of support staff.  By focussing on such a broad range of areas for assessment, it really is a quality mark that means something because it covers the firm as a whole. 
 

Why is Lexcel important? 

It’s hard work to gain and maintain the accreditation and it’s worth celebrating and promoting!

I think that one of the most important aspects is that it is a framework. It doesn’t make every legal practice operate in the same way.  They can, and do, adopt the requirements in ways that fit with the services they offer, the clients they work with and the size of their team.

Not only does the accreditation give firms an independent mark of quality, it has practical benefits, too: 

1. The framework helps senior management make sure strategies and processes are regularly reviewed.
2. The assessment provides reassurance that firms are up to date with new practice rules and regulatory requirements.
3. Efficiency increases.  Everyone in the firm knows what they are meant to do and the introduction of standardisation for repeated processes frees up time for people to concentrate on the quality of their work.  This can have a positive impact on profitability.
4. Risk is more effectively managed.  Risk is considered at a strategic level as well as a client and matter level.  This can lead to reduced premiums from professional indemnity insurers. 
5. Complaints reduce and satisfaction increases - clients are consistently provided with all required information.  They know what to expect, no matter which department they are working with.
6. It’s reassuring for clients.  They know the firm they are working with has been independently audited on an annual basis.  It can be included in pitches or tenders for work.

In an increasingly competitive environment for law firms, with an ever larger emphasis on evidencing compliance and good management, Lexcel is one way for any legal practice to publicise their quality.

As a trained Lexcel Consultant, accredited by the Law Society, Carolyn Beal can assist legal practices looking to work towards the Lexcel standard, or those who are maintaining their existing accreditation and thinking ahead to their next maintenance visit or re-accreditation application.