Conduct outside of work and online
A recent Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) case, in which a solicitor was struck off and ordered to pay costs of just over £3,000 for a matter of misconduct committed in their private life, highlights the severe consequences of breaching SRA Principles.
The solicitor in question was caught fare dodging, deliberately failing to pay rail fares worth approximately £650 for journeys undertaken over three months in 2017.
The SDT concluded that intentionally failing to pay the fares was in breach of SRA core principles, specifically those which say you must act with honesty and integrity and “… behave in a way that maintains the trust the public places in you and in the provision of legal services”.
Read the full article here – ensuring compliance with core principles.
The Trust Registration Deadline is Fast Approaching
The Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Regulations 2017 and the amendment in 2022 require certain Trusts (read our article) to be registered by 1.9.22 and newly created Trusts to be registered in accordance with the new rules.
It is worthy of note that the Trust Register has been in place since 2017 but it is now being updated.
In our Partners Newsletter this month, we highlight the range of services offered by our partners, who we have carefully chosen for their expertise in the legal sector.
Mitigo Cybersecurity
TARGETED CYBERSECURITY
Worried about how to protect your firm from cybercrime, including ransomware attacks and email account takeover? The solution is Mitigo.
Every law firm, large or small, is now a target for cyber criminals. Automated attacks will find the vulnerabilities in your technology, poorly trained people and any inadequate policies or procedures, putting your business at risk.
Which is why cyber protection is no longer the job of IT support: it requires specialist help.
Without adequate protection in place, firms could face theft of information, data, financial and intellectual property, serious business disruption, as well as reputational damage, and even potential for regulator action and fines
The Mitigo Cybersecurity Solution
Mitigo’s support has been designed for law firms, to offer proportionate, affordable, ongoing security, to safeguard against cybercrime and includes a dedicated expert client helpdesk.
After assessing your risks, they will take care of the three areas needed to keep your firm safe:
- technology – includes detailed technology assessments, penetration testing and vulnerability scanning
- people – includes eLearning, testing and simulated phishing
- governance – includes policies, personalised staff cyber security handbook and risk management framework.
Emergency Cyber Breach Response
If you’ve suffered – or even just suspect that you’ve suffered a cybersecurity incident, you need to act quickly. Mitigo provides a rapid response, containment and investigation service, and can assist you with reporting obligations to regulators and clients.
Find out more about Mitigo’s Cybersecurity Services or call 0208 191 1592 or email tsp@mitigogroup.com.
For more information about MITIGO and exclusive offers for TSP members, you can call us on 02078421830 or you can email us at info@thestrategicpartner.co.uk.
Millions of cyberattacks will take place across the UK in 2022 and many thousands of businesses will be seriously damaged. They will include law firms. The firms which avoid damage will be those that have taken proactive steps to protect themselves.
To help you join this group of secure businesses this article outlines a plan with the aim of some guidance:
Are you resilient to a ransomware attack?
DNS Document Network Services
Providing first class services that increase productivity and allow you to focus on the core areas of your business
Established in 1996, Document Network Services have over 25 years of experience supplying and supporting award winning hardware and industry leading software whilst delivering first class Managed Services and help desk support facilities – helping businesses to reduce costs, increase efficiency and innovate.
Centrally located within the Midlands, DNS work with local and national organisations of every size, from small businesses to global enterprises, providing responsive and approachable services alongside the products, resources and support of leading international solution partners.
The DNS approach is to recognise what people’s frustrations are in regards to their print environment and document management and find a solution to overcome them. Their dedicated team of Admin, Finance, in-house Technical Support, Sales and Marketing work hand in hand to ensure that their customers are at the centre of what they do.
For more information about DNS Document Network Services and exclusive offers for TSP members, you can call us on 02078421830 or email us at info@thestrategicpartner.co.uk.
“The bespoke, innovative solutions created by our team deliver three critical business advantages – Cost Reduction, Control & Convenience.”
Darren Marsh
Managing Director
EzeScan
Whether you are scanning incoming correspondence, digitising complete case files or registering incoming email, EzeScan can provide the solution that meets your needs.
Make documents available to your legal teams faster by creating one central location to access all incoming correspondence whether it enters the business as hard copy, fax or email. Securely capture and access your case-related documents wherever and whenever you want.
Industry Solutions
Digital Mailroom
With EzeScan’s Digital Mailroom solution you can eliminate the delays inherent with physical mail distribution and get your information to the correct people faster. Capture and distribute your incoming correspondence instantly to users via our web browser interface and facilitate an agile working environment to ensure your team have quick, easy, compliant, and secure access to information wherever they are working.
Enterprise Capture
Securely capture and action your matter related documents wherever and whenever you want with EzeScan’s Remote Indexing WebApp. Your staff can now effortlessly capture documents from your MFD or upload digital born documents when they are out of the office, directly to your matter files in your practice management systems. EzeScan’s web browser interface enables staff to QA, validate and register their documents from their computer or mobile device, anytime, anywhere. By simply capturing one piece of information (e.g. Matter ID), EzeScan can perform a database lookup to return the rest of the information required to register new documents.
Simplified Back Scanning
Effortlessly capture high volumes of existing case files with EzeScan’s professional production batch scanning capabilities. Digitise your existing hardcopy matter files that have been sitting on your shelves for years so that your legal team can effortlessly search and utilise information previously locked in hardcopy documents.
EzeScan provides both centralised production capture solutions for your records and document control teams and decentralised self-register solutions for your general staff. Save valuable time and limit unnecessary data entry and manual processing by leveraging your existing client and case information already in your line of business applications. By simply capturing one piece of information, EzeScan can perform a database lookup to return the rest of the relevant information required to register new records. Spend more time practicing law and less time on your repetitive administrative tasks.
Key Benefits
• Capture case documents on the fly
• Minimise document handling
• Accelerate document delivery
• Reduce or eliminate data entry
• Increase document security
• Digitisation, compliance and goverments standards
For more information about EzeScan and exclusive offers for TSP members, you can call us on 02078421830 or email us at info@thestrategicpartner.co.uk.
PracticeEvolve
Next Generation Legal Practice Management Software
PracticeEvolve understand the path to perfection is a constantly evolving journey.
Mid-tier firms require technology that will remain relevant in a rapidly changing environment. It’s why PracticeEvolve, incorporating Linetime and SOS, are providing progressive, reliable Practice Management Software with a clear pathway to the Cloud. We take responsibility to innovate across products, services and support for you and your future because legal business management matters.
It’s not just about the software either. As the world around us continues to adapt, businesses are always looking for ways to reduce the costs of physical servers with Cloud solutions. Our technology roadmap provides firms with a clear Pathway to the Cloud strategy, enabling you to take advantage of Cloud hosting as a first step towards a native, browser based cloud solution.
PracticeEvolve work for the future of our clients by committing to an ongoing level of service that includes dedicated resource and regular training. Everything we do is designed to ensure you are always maximising your return on investment.
For more information about PracticeEvolve and exclusive offers for TSP members, you can call us on 02078421830 or email us at info@thestrategicpartner.co.uk.
Just some of the benefits enjoyed by firms globally.
- One-for-all system – removes the hassle of linking different data bases together and eases the strain placed on your firm’s architecture.
- Comprehensive feature set – our feature-rich solution completely eliminates unforeseen add-on costs with all PracticeEvolve functionality included as part of your standard package.
- Deep customisation – whether it’s workflows, precedents or data, the system is easily customisable to suit the unique needs of your firm.
- Complete oversight – detailed reports, support and guidance empower you to control your business.
- Exceptional support – all clients have regular access to a customer success consultant to ensure a first class implementation and ongoing guidance focused on regular training and support.
“By being reliable, responsible and reputable, we will recognise our vision to be the most respected legal technology provider by constantly exceeding expectations globally.”
FireTap
Law Firm Marketing
Law firms are a specialist and unique type of business that requires specific expertise to help deliver effective and compliant marketing campaigns. The Strategic Partner and FireTap Ltd work in unison to deliver law firms with industry-leading expertise with an insight into law firm marketing that is unrivalled.
Fusing the legal knowledge of TSP with the world-class marketing expertise of FireTap provides a unique combination that firms benefit from and built successful and effective marketing and advertising campaigns.
Not only will your firm benefit from full-service marketing agency support, but also a robust legal strategy that drives your business forward.
How does brand loyalty work?
Customers who exhibit brand loyalty are devoted to a product, demonstrated by their repeat purchases despite competitors’ efforts to lure them away. For example, people easily choose between Pepsi and Coca Cola, Samsung, or Apple, and essentially, consumers won’t stray from their favourite. This may be due to flavour or ease of use, but most of the time, it is likely due to marketing strategies like the Coca Cola Christmas lorry or Apple’s constant innovation.
How to build brand loyalty.
We are not saying that it is easy to build a Nike-sized brand loyalty following overnight, but read our article which highlights some tips to help you get the best start.
For more information about Marketing Services for Law Firms or FireTap Marketing, 0203 911 9710 or email us at info@thestrategicpartner.co.uk.
“With an approach that is flexible, transparent and engaging, we can work as your outsourced solution or as a marketing partner alongside your existing in-house marketing team.”
ntitle
ntitle is an award-winning, UK based company providing a 100% paperless, secure & compliant title investigation service. With a 48-hour turnaround on all tenures (no matter how complex) we aim to significantly reduce transaction timelines and overheads allowing firms to focus on exceptional client service and increasing instruction levels.
Backed by over 30 years of combined experience, ntitle was founded in 2020 following many years of planning, research, and development. ntitle has grown rapidly, expanding our client base in the conveyancing industry ranging from local, independent and high street firms to many high- volume conveyancing firms.
Our flexible service allows you to instruct us when required with no minimum or maximum instruction level allowing conveyancers to maintain service levels at busier times without the need to recruit additional resources on a permanent basis.
Within 2 days, conveyancers will receive:
- A list of title enquiries before contract to be raised with the seller’s conveyance.
- A detailed and comprehensive title report to be forwarded to the purchaser.
- A Title Snap Shot, unique to ntitle.
We can deal with the most complicated and time-consuming titles in this niche and complex area of legal service.
For more information about ntitle, including exclusive offers for TSP members, you can call us on 02078421830 or you can email us at info@thestrategicpartner.co.uk
“We very much understand the criticality of the title investigation within the conveyancing process and the definite benefits from separating this task. With this in mind, we have developed a fully secure online title investigation service, which will provide you with a quality assured title report together with the necessary enquiries before contract..”
Comms Consult
Comms Consult have been providing Telecom solutions to the Legal sector for over 20 years, so they have the knowledge to always deliver the right solution first time, every time.
We adopt a consultative approach to any potential new customer so that we fully understand each and every aspect of their requirements before we recommend which telephone system would be the right fit. Whether it be an on-premise Mitel solution or a Gamma Horizon hosted phone system.
Our key services include:
•ISDN lines
•SIP Trunks
•Fibre Broadband
•Leased lines
•Free calls to UK landlines & mobiles
•In depth call reporting & analytics
•Full call recording
•Business Mobiles
•Dialler solutions (on-premise or hosted)Inbound contact centre functionality
•Social media interaction
For more information about Comms Consult, including exclusive offers for TSP members, you can call us on 02078421830 or you can email us at info@thestrategicpartner.co.uk
“We only ever suggest the most beneficial solution that works for your budget. Our commitment to you goes beyond the managed provision of your communication package and we pride ourselves on our extensive after sales care and support.”
Collards Chartered Accountants
Collards are a general practice accounting firm covering a large range of services. At Collards, we have a close working relationship with our clients, which enables us to better understand their financial affairs.
Our unique approach ensures clients have a close working relationship with our partners and qualified staff members. We ensure that our clients can comply with all statutory regulations and advise on tax and business planning.
We cover a wide range of business and other activities, including manufacturers, media, retailers, wholesalers, solicitors, publishers, IT solution providers, sports clubs, charities, television personalities and designers. From large companies to small sole traders, we are able to encompass and deliver to a vast range of clients.
For more information about Collards Chartered Accountants, including exclusive offers for TSP members, you can call us on 02078421830 or you can email us at info@thestrategicpartner.co.uk
“Our expertise encompasses the requirements of small to medium sized businesses and the audit of major companies, together with personal and corporate tax planning and advice.”
11 Little Films
11 Little Films are experts at creating professionally crafted video content.
Whether you are seeking a corporate video, showreel or product demonstration through the use of video, 11 Little Films have the creativity and expertise to meet your requirements.
With expertise across a range of sectors, including professional services, 11 Little Films are able to understand and interpret your needs to ensure you receive a perfectly presented video for the intended target audience that will gain the expected level of engagement.
visit their website
or view their showreel http://11littlefilms.com/wordpress/showreel
BESPOKE MUSIC
11 little films have full songwriting and recording facilities. They are able to create bespoke musical scores in any style for your videos. They can even make cover versions of existing songs to avoid high licensing costs.
For more information about 11 Little Films, including exclusive offers for TSP members, you can call us on 02078421830 or you can email us at info@thestrategicpartner.co.uk
Contact Us
The Strategic Partner provides essential support to law firms. We offer a range of services and consultancy tailored to the Legal sector including guidance and services for regulation and compliance. We have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in the overall management of law firms and work with them to achieve profitability, stability, and efficiency.
Our goal is to become a valued and respected partner to our member law firms providing high-quality services and solutions at all times.
If your firm wishes to review or strengthen its approach to risk, compliance and regulation, you can;
call us on 0203 911 9710
email us info@thestrategicpartner.co.uk
or make an online enquiry.
