The lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in England means that since Monday 24th January, there is no longer the recommendation to ‘work from home if you can’. However, a recent survey conducted by The Gazette of the top 30 law firms found that this will not necessarily mean that offices will be full from now on, at least in the short term.
The majority are either leaving staff to decide whether they work from home or allowing them to work flexibly at least two days a week.
Should a firm seek to formalise remote working and have this as part of their long-term structure, it is essential to consider the issues that remote working presents, and assess the risks to ensure the practice does not experience unexpected detrimental consequences.
The Strategic Partner has created a downloadable guide to highlight some of the areas firms may want to consider as part of their future strategy and seeks to change and adapt their policies and procedures.
Download our Remote Working Guidance here.
Remote Working Solutions
At The Strategic Partner, we have worked with multiple law firms to assist them in creating a documented and compliant approach to remote working with both a written policy and risk assessment, to ensure the firm’s regulatory and compliance obligations are met when formalising remote or home working with their staff. We have developed a policy and checklist that achieves the standard but as with all policies and procedures built by The Strategic Partner, we need to ensure the final policy is bespoke to each firm and works for each firm.
Developing off the shelf policies that do not reflect reality place unnecessary and enhanced burdens on the firm that cannot be achieved and put the firm at risk. At The Strategic Partner, we avoid this by building bespoke solutions for firms. We are happy to assist you in the development of a remote working policy. Through an initial discovery meeting, we will establish how your firm operates and changes it should consider or make.
To discuss our work with law firms and how we are assisting firms in shaping their future and to remain compliant, you can contact us on 020 3911 9710 or you can email us info@thestategicpartner.co.uk.
Risk and Compliance Solutions
At The Strategic Partner, we work with firms and their COLPs and COFAs to assist them with managing risk, compliance, and regulation. We offer guidance and assistance with the with the implementation of strategies relating to overall infrastructure or specifically focused on compliance and the updating of policies and procedures that are bespoke and protect the firm.
We always provide bespoke services as we recognise that every law firm is different. It is essential to provide guidance, consultancy, written documents, training, and procedures that meet the exact requirement of the firm to overcome rather than provision templated solutions.
You can view our compliance services by clicking on the links below. Our solutions are cost-effective and provide firms with the necessary solutions to comply with the:
- Codes of Conduct
- SRA Accounts Rules
- Regulations including AML
- Other legalisation that affects law firms
If you believe your firm may be at risk or wish to confirm your firm is achieving the required standard, at The Strategic Partner, we offer a range of solutions which include: –
Review – A review of the firm’s approach to regulation and compliance to include AML procedures. The output of which provides the firm with a written gap analysis and solutions to remedy any issues.
Training – to include: –
- AML Training for ALL staff to meet the firm’s obligation to provide annual training.
- 1-2-1 training for the MLRO and MLCO on their obligations and requirements.
- Practical training for those involved in client onboarding to ensure their ID and AML checks are completed properly.
Auditing – Procedural, staff, systems, and files to ensure the procedures are up to the required standard and being implemented at case level with a report of the outcome.
Solutions – Implementation of robust solutions to ensure the firm achieves compliance and then maintains compliance through the provision of ongoing support and assistance: –
Links to our brochures are as follows: –
- Risk Regulation & compliance Service including AML
- Risk, Compliance, AML Guidance and Register Administration Service
You can view and download this blog in PDF form here.