Lexcel is a quality mark awarded by The Law Society to practices and legal departments that have been independently assessed as having and met the mandatory aspects of the Law Society’s Practice Management Standards.
In the current climate for legal services there is a growing need to provide a quality service to your clients and gain a marketing advantage amongst your competitors. Failures in administration and service delivery tend to lead to most complaints and claims against solicitors, particularly in the areas of casework and communication with clients. Also there are more risks associated in taking on cases now. Yet risk can and must be assessed and managed. Increasingly, there are a number of areas identified by indemnity insurers and underwriters as the main cause of claims against solicitors.
indemnity insurers will be looking at what risk management procedures your practice has in place – which will ultimately affect your premiums.
By investing in Lexcel, your practice is likely to benefit in a wide
variety of ways:
- Establishing a framework to meet compliance requirements e.g solicitors code of conduct 2011.
- Improves marketability to prospective clients
- Improved client care
- Conflict of interest
- Solicitors have the appropriate skills, knowledge and training to carry out their work – plus reducing mistakes
- Supervision of staff and management efficiency
- Assistance with Best Value Compliance for local authorities
In addition, the need for good communication is essential both internally and externally.
Lexcel Assessment through Centre for Assessment Ltd.
CFA is a leading specialist provider of assessment services to the legal sector. With the recent addition of SQM assessment contract in partnership with IBP, London (The Specialist Quality Mark – The Legal Service Commission’s Standard for Legal aid providers),. There are currently approximately 3500 SQM holders throughout England and Wales.
CFA have delivered Lexcel assessment on behalf of the Law Society for over 10 years. The company has grown organically by providing excellent customer services to become the leading provider of Lexcel assessment with over 230 existing Lexcel customers (a market share of approximately 27%).
Added value
CFA have a number of customers purchasing other standards in addition to Lexcel. Joint assessments currently take place with ISO 9001 and IIP.
Further standards can be jointly assessed upon request thereby saving our customers’ time, disruption and cost. A time and cost saving is also available for customers requiring Lexcel and having had an SQM assessment in the past six months.
CFA is UKAS accredited (United Kingdom Accreditation Services) as a ‘Certification Body’ for ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System and Customer Service Excellence.
In addition, CFA is working towards accredited status for: ISO 18001 Health and Safety Management System, ISO 27001 Information Security Management System and BS 25999 Business Continuity Management System. Our market intelligence suggests there is a growing interest from legal sector clients in the latter two standards as PI insurers are asking about these.
Centre for Assessment are licensed to undertake Lexcel assessment on behalf of the Law Society. This arrangement ensures that the process is independent, objective and rigorously quality controlled.
Ready for Assessment – Contact us and we will:-
- Help you apply to the Law Society
- Provide a written quote
- Provide a no obligation visit
Alternatively contact the Law Society directly and select Centre for Assessment as your assessment body on the application form
