In conjunction with Cherry Tree
Consultancy Limited
Lexcel is the Law Society's practice management standard
for law firms in England and Wales and was introduced initially in 1999 and has
since been revised several times with the latest revision, Version 4, due to
become mandatory from 1 June 2008.
The standard is loosely based on the international
standard for quality management standard ISO9000:2000 but has been refined and
tailored to meet the specific needs of legal practices and also to address the
main areas that cause both formal complaints and/or claims against professional
indemnity policies due to errors or omissions.
As with most quality management standards the Lexcel
standard focuses on both administrative procedures, administration and
organisation, training and client care plus most importantly the procedural ways
in which the actual legal service is delivered.
Cherry Tree Consultancy Ltd is on the Law
Society's approved list of Lexcel consultants and has assisted a number of
solicitors' practices of varying sizes from sole practitioners to organisations
employing more than 150 staff to achieve accreditation to the Lexcel standard.
They aim to deliver a complete package solution by way of
providing specimen documentation, briefing and guidance for staff, support and
assistance through the implementation process leading to successful
accreditation.
The aim is that by that stage firms are able to manage the
ongoing processes themselves and ensure a high level of continued compliance
with the standard. However, where felt beneficial Cherry Tree Consultancy is
also happy to provide ongoing internal quality auditing and advice to assist
firms maintain their high levels of performance.
