LEXCEL Accreditation
LEXCEL is the Law Society’s legal practice quality mark for client care, compliance and practice management for law firms and in-house legal departments. The LEXCEL framework is based on the following seven key quality areas:
1. Structures and strategy
2. Financial management
3. Information management
4. People management
5. Risk management
6. Client care
7. File and case management
Achieving LEXCEL means a firm is recognised as offering excellent client service and managing risk effectively which can set your firm apart within a competitive market. A LEXCEL quality mark can help your firm prove authority, expertise, and competence in your practice.
It is also accepted by the Legal Aid Agency and the Money Advice Service as an alternative to the Specialist Quality Mark (“SQM”) accreditation. – find out about our SQM accreditation pre audit services
To learn more about how LEXCEL can benefit your organisation, visit the Law Society’s website here.
The Strategic Partner works with legal service providers of all sizes to prepare for the LEXCEL assessments including the updating of processes and systems to ensure the firm is responding to the changing needs of the industry and of LEXCEL. Seeking specialist advice is essential to ensure the application process runs as effectively as possible.
Find Out More
For more information about our LEXCEL Accreditation Service call us on 020 3911 9710 or email us at info@thestrategicpartner.co.uk.
LEXCEL Accreditation Service – The Detail
This service has been designed to assist those in the firm to identify and take the necessary actions when applying for LEXCEL or preparing for their annual assessment.
We realise that audits can be stressful and time consuming, particularly for senior staff involved in the process.
Having the support of TSP through the process, provides you with professional advice and guidance on meeting the LEXCEL Standard, saving your senior team time in the process and the knowledge that you are working with an experienced and knowledgeable provider reduces some of that audit stress and burden.
There are four types of LEXCEL assessment
1. Initial assessment
2. Year 1 annual maintenance visit (AMV)
3. Year 2 AMV
4. Full reassessment
The initial assessment requires you to show that the LEXCEL Standard has been embedded in your firm for a 3-month period. The year 1 and 2 visits are slightly less involved and require less staff to be interviewed and a lower number of file reviews, which is dependent upon the size of the firm. The full reassessment is as thorough as the initial assessment. Our costs for assisting therefore vary according to which type of assessment you will be due to have.
Our service includes staff interviews and file reviews to focus your team on making sure that they have all the required knowledge to pass their interview and that the Standard’s requirements are working in practice and evident on a good sample of your closed files. This should then flag any potential gaps and assist you in making sure that current files are also compliant for selection by your auditor on the day.
Our LEXCEL Accreditation Service – an overview
Our pre-audit service includes reviewing your compliance in all seven of the required areas, identifying any gaps and reporting to you. We will achieve this through
- Reviewing the firm’s policies and procedures – this is to ensure the firm’s policies and procedures meet the requirements of LEXCEL Standard and to identify any required updates.
- Interviewing staff – We will interview a good sample of your staff to ensure they have a sufficiently good working knowledge of the firm’s policies and procedures relevant to LEXCEL, and that they fully understand the firm’s approach, enabling them to answer the key questions asked by auditors.
- File Review – Undertaking file reviews on a sample of closed files to ensure that the processes and procedures are demonstrated on file. For an additional fee (see fee table below), we can also come onsite or undertake remote file reviews via your case management system (if accessible).
- Preparation – Completion of the necessary application and preparing a pack of documents and information for the assessment once you are satisfied that everything is in place, including liaising with the auditor in advance of the audit.
- Attendance – where necessary attending site for the audit day to work with the firm and the auditor as required.
We can also provide the firm with updated policies, procedures, plans and record forms if required – please refer to our Risk, Regulation and Compliance Service (which also includes AML where relevant to the firm), which provides a set of compliant policies and more.
Please download our brochure in the link below to read about the service in more detail: LEXCEL Accreditation Services
Compliance Services
We can also provide the firm with updated policies, procedures, plans and record forms if required – please refer to our Risk, Regulation and Compliance Service (which also includes AML where relevant to the firm), which provides a set of compliant policies and more.
Click here to find out more about our Risk, Regulation and Compliance Services, including AML
About The Strategic Partner
The Strategic Partner is a knowledge hub, consultancy, and service provider for law firms, Professional Indemnity Insurers and those who interact with the Legal industry.
Our focus is to provide quality services to all clients, enriching their businesses with our knowledge and expertise and becoming an integrated and valuable asset.
We have developed a range of packaged and bespoke services and solutions for both the Legal and Insurance Sectors which are all aimed at bringing intelligence, efficiency and where appropriate, enhanced profitability.
Our goal is to become a truly valued partner to all businesses we work with and to assist them with any challenges they face to overcome them and strengthen their business. We pride ourselves on the depth and breadth of our knowledge and experience alongside, that of our Partners and will work with both law firms and insurers of all sizes to achieve their goals wherever possible.
Get in touch
For more information about our LEXCEL Accreditation Service, you can call us on 0203 911 9710 or you can email us at info@thestrategicpartner.co.uk.