New training head drives differentiated learning delivery
Specialist appointment will support the development of learning solutions for lawyers in the changing CPD landscape.
The law firm network LawNet is gearing up its training and development delivery with the appointment of a specialist head of learning, in a move designed to tackle any changes arising from the SRA’s current consultation on the future of CPD, which could see an end to the current hours-based approach.
The aim is to provide a wider range of solutions that will enable the lawyers that make up the 2000-strong membership to target their specific learning needs in different ways.
Peter Riddleston joins LawNet as head of learning, quality and development. A former lawyer, he has spent the last 11 years in professional training and development, including a stint at the College of Law and more recently with Landmark Information Group, where he developed their training programme for lawyers.
Leading developments for the network, he plans to add to its face-to-face training programme with the addition of extended online and interactive learning opportunities, alongside more member-led content. There will also be increased emphasis on drawing in delivery from other providers, to expand the offering with differentiated products designed to more closely match the needs of practitioners at different stages of experience, and for those moving into different roles, such as leadership.
He said: “We have a very good face-to-face offering, much of which is free at the point of delivery, and highly valued by the members, but I will be looking to build across the whole range to reflect the changing demands of the profession, drawing in new suppliers and providers to build a differentiated range suitable for members with varied training needs. What also stands out is the huge amount of knowledge and experience within the membership, and I will be looking at how that can be harnessed and shared to enhance our overall learning programme and provide members with tailored learning opportunities.”
He added: “The landscape for CPD training and development is at a crossroads. The response to the SRA’s consultation will guide the future direction, and this may involve a move away from an hours-based requirement towards satisfying demand shaped by an individual practitioner’s particular learning needs – what we need to do is help firms meet any new requirements by ensuring that our learning offering has their needs at its heart.”
Welcoming Riddleston to the network, John Thomas, chief executive of LawNet said: “Our learning programmes are a key component of what gels the network together, and our members quite rightly demand leading edge support. Peter’s past experience will play a vital role in enlarging our offering to existing members and new member firms joining the network.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
About LawNet:
LawNet was established in 1989 to enable a collaborative, non-competing national network where independent law firms could access big firm resources and benefit from collective purchasing, shared knowledge, best practice and expertise.
All members share a commitment to excellence and must achieve and maintain LawNet’s own ISO.9001 standard and the associated Mark of Excellence in client service.
The combined income of the 64 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, practice development, marketing and compliance. It currently places some £1.2bn worth of PI cover alone for members each year, which helps stabilise premiums for firms.
Twitter: @LawNetUK
Tough tactics secure awards for LawNet firms
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The hard-hitters were out in force at this year’s LawNet awards, with the winning firms all showcasing strategies that are putting them out in front.
Leading the winners by scooping the Law Firm of the Year Awards were London and South East firm Matthew Arnold & Baldwin LLP in the 16+ partner category and Bath based Mogers Solicitors LLP taking the award for Law Firm of the Year with up to 15 partners.
Announcing the awards, John Thomas, chief executive of LawNet, the long-standing law firm network for mid-size independent firms, said: “Entrants this year were exceptional, across the country and from very different sized firms. It seems none of our members are waiting for the changes in the sector to hit them – they’re all out there, driving forward new customer-facing initiatives and strengthening their internal processes.”
Matthew Arnold & Baldwin has tripled turnover during the past three years and is just shy of a Top 100 listing on turnover. They’ve already achieved a profit per equity partner ratio that puts them in the Top 20 with a strategy that has seen them develop a national reputation for expertise in investment and retail banking litigation.
Said Clare Stothard, chair of the Matthew Arnold & Baldwin management board: “Winning awards such as this is testament to the stellar efforts of colleagues across the firm. Having put in place an ambitious strategy, with client service and commitment to outstanding legal advice at its heart, we are thrilled to have had our success recognised by LawNet.”
In Bath, Mogers has achieved its best ever annual turnover and net profit, with residential matters up 50%, litigation by nearly 90% and departmental cross referrals up nearly 50%.
The LawNet Mark of Excellence Award went to Midlands-based FBC Manby Bowdler LLP for incorporating the new LawNet Mark of Excellence customer service standard at the heart of a cultural shift within the firm, that has seen them secure a coveted ranking in the national Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For.
Best Use of Technology went to Fidler & Pepper Solicitors for an innovative online solution to tenancy management for landlords, with a simple system for staying legally compliant whilst speeding up action on rent arrears.
Young Lawyer of the Year winner was Judith Rountree of Gardner Leader LLP who is making a name for herself with high level contentious probate work and a strong focus on business development activities for her firm.
Best Use of Social Media went to Ashton KCJ, with a winning strategy that has included Twitter and LinkedIn; Facebook advertising campaigns and YouTube information-style videos, backed up with training for lawyers to help them take part and all delivering tangible results for the firm.
The award for Excellence in Risk Management and Compliance went to Vanderpump & Sykes Solicitors for the second year running, recognising their continuing outstanding performance and approach to quality processes.
Added LawNet’s John Thomas: “Awards recognise the achievements of the firms, whose innovation provides a valuable contribution to the standing of the LawNet network, as well as recognising the staff who are behind these outstanding outcomes.”
ENDS
Best Use of Technology : Fidler & Pepper Solicitors : sponsored by Tikit
Best Use of Social Media : Ashton KCJ : sponsored by Conscious Solutions
Excellence in Risk Management & Compliance : Vanderpump & Sykes Solicitors LLP : sponsored by QBE
Young Lawyer of the Year : Judith Rountree, Gardner Leader LLP : sponsored by Sweet & Maxwell
LawNet Mark of Excellence Award : FBC Manby Bowdler LLP : sponsored by Shopper Anonymous and Law League
Law Firm of the Year (up to 15 partners) : Mogers Solicitors LLP : sponsored by Wilkinson Read
Law Firm of the Year (16 plus partners) : Matthew Arnold & Baldwin LLP : sponsored by Wilkinson Read
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
About LawNet:
LawNet was established in 1989 to enable a collaborative, non-competing national network where independent law firms could access big firm resources and benefit from collective purchasing, shared knowledge, best practice and expertise.
All members share a commitment to excellence and must achieve and maintain LawNet’s own ISO.9001 standard and the associated Mark of Excellence in client service.
The combined income of the 66 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, practice development, marketing and compliance. It currently places some £1.2bn worth of PI cover alone for members each year, which helps stabilise premiums for firms.
Twitter: @LawNetUK
LawNet leading the way in service delivery
Customer focus puts a smile on the face of the lawyers with a 92% satisfaction rating
LawNet members are reporting real results from a £300,000 initiative launched by the network to tackle the image of lawyers as aloof, arrogant and unapproachable.
The first of its kind for law firms, the initiative is focussed on helping the mid-size independent law firms that make up the LawNet network to stand out from the competition.
The package for member firms includes mystery shopping, online customer satisfaction questionnaires and customer service training, all designed to give lawyers lessons that are drawn from the retail sector.
LawNet’s Excellence Mark is wrapped up in a bespoke ISO standard and auditing system, so it’s robust and measurable, but designed to be more than a compliance straightjacket, according to LawNet, so as to add value for clients.
And the results to date run in the face of the latest survey from the Legal Services Board1 which suggested that consumers are likely to view legal professionals as intimidating and typically described them as ‘arrogant, disinterested or unapproachable’.
“Initial results certainly show that our firms are keeping clients happy,” said Helen Hamilton Shaw, director of services for LawNet. “We’re investing back into member firms with this initiative, which will see £300,000 being spent during the first three years.”
She added: “Research always hits the headlines about how bad solicitors are at communicating with their clients, that they’re arrogant, unapproachable and aloof, and we have set out to counter that by helping our members to embed a customer-centric approach and achieve a recognisable standard that clients can look out for.
“We can see that it’s working. The first results have shown a 92% satisfaction rate for friendliness and approachability, from customers of LawNet firms who have completed the online survey. Customers have asked for better communication and transparency on costs, so that’s what we’re measuring.”
All LawNet firms are independently audited as part of their ISO accreditation and the new Mark of Excellence will form part of all future auditing, to check that firms are keeping up with the terms of the LawNet customer charter, including completing customer satisfaction surveys, mystery shopping, response times, transparent costing, backed up by regular staff training and a focus on boosting internal morale.
ENDS
http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/public-still-sees-lawyers-arrogant
1 https://research.legalservicesboard.org.uk/news/latest-research-3/
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
About LawNet:
LawNet was established in 1989 to enable a collaborative, non-competing national network where independent law firms could access big firm resources and benefit from collective purchasing, shared knowledge, best practice and expertise.
All members share a commitment to excellence and must achieve and maintain LawNet’s own ISO.9001 standard and the associated Mark of Excellence in client service.
The combined income of the 66 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, practice development, marketing and compliance. It currently places some £1.2bn worth of PI cover alone for members each year, which helps stabilise premiums for firms.
Twitter: @LawNetUK
LawNet raises the bar with new client service standard
See coverage at: http://bit.ly/12lLZ3A
Firms in the LawNet network have a new stamp of approval to help them stand out on the high street, with the launch of an audited client care mark that’s backed by the network’s ISO 9001 standard.
Law firm network LawNet has launched a ‘Mark of Excellence’ in client service that’s designed to give member firms a competitive edge.
The Mark is set out in a client service charter and will provide a nationally-recognisable and robust measure of quality to clients. Practice performance will be measured through a suite of tools especially designed for LawNet firms, including compulsory online satisfaction surveys, training and mystery shopping. Compliance with the mark will be audited as part of the LawNet ISO 9001 standard.
All LawNet firms must, as a condition of membership, achieve and maintain the network’s bespoke ISO 9001 standard, which was updated last year to include the requirements of LEXCEL and OFR. Now, the Client Care focus has been extended, to make it more immediately relevant to clients and help firms translate compliance into client service excellence.
The satisfaction surveys will be delivered through the Law League online portal, and will enable firms to benchmark themselves against fellow member firms and others nationwide.
The mystery shopping will involve eight samples each year, both telephone and walk-in, and is being delivered through the professional services division of Shopper Anonymous, who will also provide one to one feedback and in-practice training to support their findings.
Launching the Mark, chief executive John Thomas said “Our firms are always focussed on delivering excellence, but we recognise that in the new world it’s not enough simply to be an excellent legal adviser. How you look after clients is what makes a difference, and this Mark of Excellence will give firms the tools to focus on that internally.
“It’s not just lip service to client care, or badging something without substance, this is solid. It’s backed up by ISO 9001 and involves ongoing training, measurement and benchmarking. The audit systems are already in place and proven; this will be a simple add-on for firms that will drive real benefits.”
Firms with an established client service charter of their own, which is at least equivalent, can ask to have their own system accredited, but will be required to undertake the compulsory mystery shopping and online surveying.
LawNet board member Mark Hovell of Manchester’s George Davies added: “I think the Mark of Excellence gives LawNet firms a real opportunity to listen and learn from their clients and to steal a march on their competitors.”
At Lamb Brooks LLP, managing partner Ann Davies said: “This strategy for the future is just what we wanted to hear. I think the Mark of Excellence is a fantastic move, which is going to help all of the firms within LawNet to stand up to challenges facing the legal profession.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
About LawNet:
LawNet was established in 1989 to enable a collaborative, non-competing national network where independent law firms could access big firm resources and benefit from collective purchasing, shared knowledge, best practice and expertise.
All members share a commitment to excellence and must achieve and maintain LawNet’s own ISO.9001 standard and the associated Mark of Excellence in client service.
The combined income of the 65 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, practice development, marketing and compliance. It currently places some £1.2bn worth of PI cover alone for members each year, which helps stabilise premiums for firms.
Twitter: @LawNetUK
About Law League:
Law League was established in 2010 and is the UK’s leading benchmarking organisation for law firms. In 2013 we will host and analyse over 1.5 million individual questions.
Law League provides law firms with online surveys to monitor how they are viewed by their clients and staff. Uniquely, survey results are anonymously benchmarked. So, not only can a firm monitor its relationships with clients and staff, but it can see how well it is faring against its peer group across the UK.
Results are displayed in easy to view graphics which can be used to improve client retention, develop new business or attract and retain a motivated, efficient workforce all of which lead to increased profitability.
About Shopper Anonymous:
Shopper Anonymous are experts at offering the professional sector feedback through their extensive mystery shopping programmes. The company have franchised across the UK and have highly trained teams of mystery shoppers who have the ability to behave like a normal customer. The mystery shoppers then conduct a series of visits with tailored scenarios to all departments within the legal firm. The feedback is the most comprehensive in the mystery shopping sector. The franchisees are also highly skilled and trained at delivering quality training solutions as an outcome of the mystery shopping results to their legal customers. The company’s mystery shopping products measure the presentation of the office and staff, the customer service skills of the team and the sales skills of the legal expert. Shopper Anonymous is responsible for benchmarking the services standards of the Lawnet members through an on-going and extensive mystery shopping programme. The company has more than 18 years of experience working in the legal sector throughout Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Independents focus on putting clients first
Download photographs of the winners from Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawnet/sets/72157632578411694/
Clients came out on top in this year’s LawNet awards, with the winning firms all showcasing strategies that put the customer first.
And the law firm network says it shows the step-change in the sector that’s being led by the mid-size independents that make up its membership.
The winner of Law Firm of the Year went to Manchester’s George Davies Solicitors LLP and Managing Partner of the Year was Kim Carr of Midlands firm FBC Manby Bowdler LLP, who has led the firm since 2008.
According to John Thomas, chief executive of LawNet: “George Davies stood out this year, with a range of initiatives tailored to improve service for their clients, combined with robust internal processes to keep employees on track with the business plan. The firm is delivering real results with a number of high profile cases and a real presence in the legal rankings, all backed up by strong financial performance. They’re forging their own opportunities and this is a firm that is going places.”
Speaking of managing partner winner Kim Carr, FBC Manby Bowdler senior partner Niall Blackie said: “Kim has been instrumental in the firm’s continued growth. She is an inspirational and accomplished leader and we are fortunate to have her directing our business.” Mrs Carr’s award follows hard on the heels of recognition in the most recent Legal 500 for the 35 partner firm, and “One To Watch” in the 2012 Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For survey.
Young Lawyer of the Year winner was Emma Atkins of Denison Till. Less than 2 years post-qualification she is already handling complex and high level cases in her area of specialisation. She has also taken the lead in the firm’s online and social media activity.
Best Business Development or Marketing Initiative went to Grindeys LLP, who recognised the importance of the role they play in their local community and set about developing a platform to bring together their pro-bono, charitable and fundraising activities, which has raised their profile and attracted new contracts.
Best website went to Ashton KCJ, winning for content development and site navigation that is focused firmly on the client and their needs.
The award for Excellence in Risk Management and Compliance went to Vanderpump & Sykes Solicitors, for initiatives designed to embed a compliance culture in the firm, including long term compliance planning, comprehensive firm-wide training programmesand risk registers.
And Matthew Arnold & Baldwin won the Commitment to Client Care award, for a range of initiatives that range from secondments and flexible pricing models, to relationship partners and free in-house legal surgeries and training for clients.
Added LawNet’s John Thomas: “The aim of these annual awards is to get to the heart of what makes a LawNet firm, with an innovative attitude that’s underpinned by a commitment to excellence and strong risk management. Every submission this year demonstrated how firms recognise the importance of creating meaningful client interactions, and that’s going to be a game changer in the years to come. ”
This year’s winners were:
2012 LawNet Law Firm of the Year award, sponsored by Voicepath.
George Davies Solicitors LLP
Managing Partner of the Year, sponsored by SSG Legal.
Kim Carr, FBC Manby Bowdler LLP
Young Lawyer of the Year, sponsored by Wilkinson Read & Partners
Emma Atkins, Denison Till
Best Business Development or Marketing Initiative, sponsored by Sweet & Maxwell
Grindeys LLP
Best Website, sponsored by Conscious Solutions
Ashton KCJ
Commitment to Client Care sponsored by TikitTFB
Matthew Arnold & Baldwin
Excellence in Risk Management and Compliance sponsored by QBE European Operations
Vanderpump & Sykes Solicitors
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk Twitter : @magtay
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk Twitter: @helenhshaw
Notes to Editor:
About LawNet:
LawNet was established in 1989 to enable a collaborative, non-competing national network where independent law firms could access big firm resources and benefit from collective purchasing, shared knowledge, best practice and expertise.
All members share a commitment to excellence and must achieve and maintain LawNet’s own ISO.9001 standard and the associated Mark of Excellence in client service.
The combined income of the 65 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, practice development, marketing and compliance. It currently places some £1.2bn worth of PI cover alone for members each year, which helps stabilise premiums for firms.
Twitter: @LawNetUK
Peak performers scoop LawNet Challenge
A group of London lawyers has taken the LawNet Challenge title, after battling with torrential rain and mud to become the only team to complete this year’s punishing 28 mile course.
The Barker Gillette team, comprising partners Steven Barker and Qaiser Khanzada and office assistant Marc De Vera, completed the gruelling trek in the Shutlingsloe area of the Peak District in 11 hours and 40 minutes.
Over 70 walkers in 16 teams had started out, all drawn from LawNet member firms across the country, but only four walkers managed to complete the trek – the three remaining members of the team from Barker Gillette and LawNet organiser George Coombes.
Qaiser Khanzada said: “Our success was down to the excellent map reading skills of Steven Barker, who is a seasoned walker and really knows how to navigate. We also took tips from the local sheep, which were sheltering by the stone walls, and we tried to do the same when Singapore-style rain was combined with biting wind. But we are very pleased we made it – although very sore too.”
Each year leading law firm network LawNet arranges a Challenge event for its 67-strong membership of independent firms. Previous events have included the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge and Striding Edge to Helvellyn.
It’s organised by George Coombes, LawNet’s Marketing & Services Manager, who said: “We thought it was bad luck last June when there was snowfall just a week before we tackled Snowdon. But the weather this weekend was even worse, with already wet ground becoming impossible as we were hit by downpours from lunchtime on. The field sections of the walk were like a bog, and the up and downhill sections gradually became a mud slide.”
One team of walkers found themselves five miles off track, and despite getting back on to the route, were forced to retire when they could not reach the final checkpoint in time. The conditions saw most people forced to give up about half way through and the winning Barker Gillette team lost two members at 26 miles, just a mile before the final check point, when Laura St-Gallay was injured and colleague Penny Bax stayed with her whilst help arrived.
The challenge is overseen by a support team of mountaineering experts, and support leader Stephen Evered said: “We saw a few who were really struggling around the third and fourth checkpoint, but who carried on regardless, which was surely a huge personal achievement for them. We also were impressed by the leadership of some of the team captains who maintained their group’s morale, even though some were really struggling.
LawNet chief executive John Thomas added: “It was great to see the determination and enthusiasm of all the members who took part in such tough conditions.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
About LawNet:
The combined income of the 67 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £20m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business development, marketing and compliance. It currently places some £1.2bn worth of PI cover alone for members each year, which helps stabilise premiums for firms.
Each year LawNet delivers over 40 CPD accredited learning events at venues throughout the UK, covering a wide range of technical legal updates, practice management and business development topics, including a leading-edge strategic leadership and management development programme. All the learning days are CPD accredited, many are provided as a free service within membership, and the member-defined programme ensures that topics tackle key issues affecting that particular area of practice.
All LawNet firms must achieve ISO 9001:2008 LawNet Quality Standard certification within two years of joining, and securing and maintaining that accreditation is a condition of membership. Through a unique agreement with the Law Society, firms can also secure and hold the Lexcel practice management standard and benefit from a simplified dual auditing process for the two marks, with the independent assessment delivered through LawNet.
Twitter: @LawNetUK
Blog: http://www.lawnet.co.uk/lawnet-blog
First firms complete dual ISO / LEXCEL accreditation
Members of the LawNet network are taking a dual approach to quality management to support compliance and cut audit requirements
Leading law firm network LawNet has become the first in the sector to offer dual quality accreditation to ISO 9001 and Lexcel standards, in a move designed to cut costs and resources for its members.
The LawNet dual accreditation route has been developed to offer firms efficiencies where Lexcel is a requirement in public funded work or for tendering purposes. All members of the network must achieve the LawNet ISO 9001 quality standard within 24 months of joining, with ongoing six-monthly assessments.
Now the firms can also opt for Lexcel assessment at the same time as their regular ISO audit, cutting audit times dramatically.
At Oxley & Coward Solicitors LLP in Rotherham, practice manager Peter Hedley said: “The Lexcel standard is becoming increasingly common as a requirement in tenders and we also wanted to avoid having multiple audits every year to keep our family and criminal legal aid work. We found the dual ISO/Lexcel audit process very easy and knowing we will have just two audits to manage each year is the real bonus. There were very few things in Lexcel that we weren’t already doing, but it helped us to focus on meeting the demands of the SRA handbook and OFR.”
Another firm that has achieved the dual accreditation is Parrott & Coales LLP in Aylesbury. Debbie Rymer, quality coordinator said: “We could not renew our family legal aid contract without Lexcel or other external auditing, and we expected that Lexcel would open the door to new work streams in the public sector and with other bodies that now demand this as a standard.”
She added: “We welcome audits because we use them to improve the way we work, but streamlining any audit process can only be good. “
John Thomas, chief executive of LawNet said: “One of our main objectives as an organisation is to help our firms deliver high quality legal services. We need to make things as simple as possible for them, so they can concentrate on fee earning.
“We are the only group that can offer dual accreditation in this way, with our dual accredited firms having just one audit annually for each accreditation. Devising the dual accreditation has been a complex process from our side, and it has taken some time to put it in place, but our firms will benefit as it will mean far less resources to achieve and maintain the standard, as well as giving another string to their bow in securing work.”
Thomas added: “A number of firms had been asking for this and it’s win win all round, as the Law Society will have more firms going for Lexcel accreditation, and they will be firms that truly understand quality.”
Also coming on line from LawNet shortly is an online portal designed to help firms manage the requirements of the SRA Handbook and Outcomes-Focussed Regulation (OFR) which has been described as providing real tools for firms to use day-to-day.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
About LawNet:
The combined income of the 67 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £20m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business development, marketing and compliance. It currently places some £1.2bn worth of PI cover alone for members each year, which helps stabilise premiums for firms.
Each year LawNet delivers over 60 CPD accredited learning events at venues throughout the UK, covering a wide range of technical legal updates, practice management and business development topics, including a leading-edge strategic leadership and management development programme. All the learning days are CPD accredited, many are provided as a free service within membership, and the member-defined programme ensures that topics tackle key issues affecting that particular area of practice.
All LawNet firms must achieve ISO 9001:2008 LawNet Quality Standard certification within two years of joining, and securing and maintaining that accreditation is a condition of membership. Through a unique agreement with the Law Society, firms can also secure and hold the Lexcel practice management standard and benefit from a simplified dual auditing process for the two marks, with the independent assessment delivered through LawNet.
Twitter: @LawNetUK
Blog: http://thelawnetblog.wordpress.com/
Groups join forces to support solicitors in post-LSA environment
Two leading and long-established law firm membership groups have joined forces to provide their law firm clients with access to increased support in the post Legal Services Act environment.
360 Legal Group, which specialises in law firm management, structure and merger will provide acquisition and merger support to member firms of LawNet, a mutual and member-owned group which comprises independent law firms with between 6 and 39 partners and operates the legal market’s largest PI scheme. LawNet will reciprocate by providing 360 Legal Group members and clients with valuable support in quality, risk management and specialist training. Both sets of members will benefit from greater access to a large pool of potential merger partners, increased training, conference, event and networking opportunities and a vast choice of consultancy services.
Whilst both organisations will remain totally independent in their operations, they will be looking at ways to share resources, services and contacts to the benefit of their members. The organisations serve different audiences – with 360 Legal Group primarily working with progressive small to medium-sized law firms and LawNet working with mainly heavyweight independent firms – but both agree that there is huge potential to work more closely.
John Thomas, Chief Executive of LawNet says: “We are different organisations but both aim to ensure our members stay ahead of the competition, reduce costs, improve efficiencies and enhance profitability and we believe we can be stronger together. Working collaboratively, whilst retaining our individual identities, ensures our members enjoy the best of both worlds – the membership benefits and support they have always enjoyed, but with access to a greater level of contacts and services.”
“LawNet has built its reputation through the exacting standards placed on member firms, and is well aligned with our values here at 360 Legal Group, to be innovative, ambitious and forward-thinking.” adds 360 Legal Group Chief Executive Viv Williams.
cont …
“As the legal sector consolidates there will be merger, ABS and private equity opportunities for many. Others are looking to raise their game and build their business around “Brand Solicitor”. By sharing our expertise, knowledge and best practice we can offer an unrivalled level of support to help all members achieve their ambitions.”
Benefits to members are already being realised with LawNet firms taking part in 360 Legal Group’s February Merger and Consolidation Summit. The organisations are now focusing on new packages for those seeking to buy, sell or merge.
ENDS
Background Notes to Editors:
About 360 Legal Group:
Founded in July 2004, 360 Legal Group has become the largest membership organisation for legal businesses in the UK, growing steadily over the years in response to a growing need for efficiency and business skills amongst its members and the legal profession as a whole. It provides marketing, management and strategy solutions for law firms, helping lawyers to manage and market their practices more successfully as businesses, differentiate themselves from local competitors and overcome the challenges facing the profession. The Group also specialises in the merger and acquisition of legal practices.
Through its dedicated business consultancy service delivered through a nationwide team of advisors, 360 Legal Group further helps its clients on a one-to-one basis to recognise the sweeping changes being introduced by The Legal Services Act, understand the difficult and fast changing trading conditions in which law firms now operate and explore how to take advantage of forthcoming deregulation.
360 Legal Group members access free SRA authorised CPD seminars for an unlimited number of staff as part of membership, which starts from under £30 per month. Membership also includes a free practice review which revisits and updates business plans and objectives, an annual benchmarking report to enable members to get an overview of their organisation’s performance against other member practices, a quarterly e-zine to inform members about trends and developments in the legal sector, a telephone helpline and discounts of at least 20 per cent on all of 360 Legal Group’s consultancy services.
360 Legal Group, Tel: 01275 465540 Visit: www.360legalgroup.co.uk
For further information please contact:
Jacqui Southway Viv Williams
Jacqueline Southway PR 360 Legal Group
Tel: 01454 201869 / 07747 804703 Tel: 01275 465540 / 07879 999274
About LawNet:
The combined income of the 67 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business development, marketing and compliance. It currently places some £1.2bn worth of PI cover alone for members each year, which helps stabilise premiums for firms.
Each year LawNet delivers over 60 CPD accredited learning events at venues throughout the UK, covering a wide range of technical legal updates, practice management and business development topics, including a leading-edge strategic leadership and management development programme. All the learning days are CPD accredited, many are provided as a free service within membership, and the member-defined programme ensures that topics tackle key issues affecting that particular area of practice.
All LawNet firms must achieve ISO 9001:2008 LawNet Quality Standard certification within two years of joining, and securing and maintaining that accreditation is a condition of membership. Through a unique agreement with the Law Society, firms can also secure and hold the Lexcel practice management standard and benefit from a simplified dual auditing process for the two marks, with the independent assessment delivered through LawNet.
Twitter: @LawNetUK Blog: http://thelawnetblog.wordpress.com/
For further information about LawNet, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk
LawNet announces new online risk management portal
Specialist director appointed to lead compliance developments
LawNet is responding to the growing compliance burden by announcing the development of a new risk management portal for its members.
The online portal will help firms manage the introduction of the SRA Handbook and Outcomes-Focussed Regulation (OFR) and is described as providing real tools for firms to use day-to-day.
It will bring together various partners, including insurers, to lead firms through effective implementation designed to match up to the SRA requirements. It will be complemented through LawNet’s learning programme, with training and risk management consultation.
And the network has appointed a legal accreditations and compliance professional to head up and develop these services for members.
Jeanette Lucy joins from legal training provider CLT where she was qualifications and accreditations director for six years. She previously spent 15 years with the Law Society in professional ethics, and a spell in private practice, heading up compliance and money laundering for a regional firm.
“A major objective is to support firms in implementing the new requirements day-to-day. We see ourselves as being part of their compliance team, helping them develop the right processes and I am leading the development of the package that will help them in risk management, risk regulation, reporting, and recommendations,” said Jeanette.
She will also be heading up the network’s quality and accreditation and the major exercise of re-writing the LawNet quality standard, covering OFR, LEXCEL and the ISO 9001:2008 LawNet Quality Standard certification, which is compulsory for all LawNet firms. Members can now combine this with LEXCEL for an integrated joint accreditation review.
LawNet chief executive John Thomas emphasised the importance of Jeanette’s appointment, saying: “Risk management and compliance is the big issue for firms today. We intend to make it a simple process for them, allowing them to concentrate on fee earning. Jeanette has an outstanding track record in areas that are vital for us to deliver the right support for firms in the years to come.”
As director of learning and development for LawNet, Jeanette will also use her experience in developing training and accreditation for lawyers to develop the network’s free CPD training programme and other learning and development across its 28 specialist groups.
Jeanette took a law degree before making an early move into personnel management and from there to the Law Society, where she was involved in writing the practice rules, the accounts rules and the Guide to the Professional Conduct of Solicitors during her time in the ethics division.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
About LawNet:
The combined income of the 68 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business development, marketing and compliance. It currently places some £1.2bn worth of PI cover alone for members each year, which helps stabilise premiums for firms.
Each year LawNet delivers over 60 CPD accredited learning events at venues throughout the UK, covering a wide range of technical legal updates, practice management and business development topics, including a leading-edge strategic leadership and management development programme. All the learning days are CPD accredited, many are provided as a free service within membership, and the member-defined programme ensures that topics tackle key issues affecting that particular area of practice.
All LawNet firms must achieve ISO 9001:2008 LawNet Quality Standard certification within two years of joining, and securing and maintaining that accreditation is a condition of membership. Through a unique agreement with the Law Society, firms can also secure and hold the Lexcel practice management standard and benefit from a simplified dual auditing process for the two marks, with the independent assessment delivered through LawNet.
Twitter: @LawNetUK
Blog: http://thelawnetblog.wordpress.com/
Newest member talks about why they chose LawNet
Ray Crudgington is managing partner of LawNet’s newest member firm, Grant Saw LLP in south east London – the fifth to join in the past 12 months.
Employing 20 lawyers and with five partners, Grant Saw provides legal services to a private and corporate customer base across south east London and the Docklands and has ambitions to significantly increase its share of commercial work.
Ray explains why they chose to join LawNet:
“Now seemed the right time to join LawNet for us. We’ve got serious ambitions to grow the firm and want to significantly increase our share of commercial work. By joining LawNet we see it as offering us an opportunity to grow, by learning from other larger firms, sharing resources and cutting our internal costs through group discounted services.
Over the last few years we have made a concerted effort to expand. We moved into some modern offices in 2003, got our first web site running in 2005 and then secured Lexcel in 2007. We did all that and then, like most of the sector, went into recession survival mode for a while.
But then you look around and see the changes coming in around ABS and everything that we’re all contending with and we started thinking about how strategic partnerships might provide value. We want to ramp up on both contentious and non contentious commercial work, and particularly company commercial, and need to find the route to achieve that.
We had had some discussions with LawNet once before, but we were in the process of merging with another firm and it didn’t feel the right time. We were in a state of change, not sure what we’d look like at the other end and certainly a smaller player by comparison with others in the network.
We investigated other networks and collaborative initiatives, and trialled one for a year to see how it might help our ambitions. In the end we reached the conclusion that it wasn’t going to be right for us.
So that’s when we came back to talk to LawNet. There are larger firms than us in the network, and that matches our aspirations. Seeing what we get, we were really impressed.
Lawnet appears to be lawyer driven. We like the not-for-profit model and the fact that any surplus gets ploughed back into member services. The collective bargaining power brings real cost benefits; and these are all firms that we wish to be associated with.
We want to be around bigger firms to learn from them. There’s a risk in being one of the larger fish in your own pond, that you start thinking the others on your patch are your competition, but you need to have a bigger picture and look at what is being done at the level where you are really competing.
We are very committed to best practice and think it is vital for our future success. Customer service is important – if we do things well, the client will see the benefit. But we need to explore new ways of doing things and that’s where it becomes important to speak with other law firms and other lawyers in a non competing environment. The chance to do that is limited elsewhere.
We want to share resources and grow. That’s what we’re looking to achieve by being part of LawNet."
Ray Crudgington: Managing Partner and Head of Commercial & Probate Departments at LawNet member firm Grant Saw LLP. Ray qualified as a solicitor in 1991 after graduating from Leicester University and training with a major City firm. Since qualifying he has dealt mainly with company/commercial work and commercial property. He joined Grant Saw at the end of 1997 following several years with a Central London firm and is the head of the firm’s commercial and probate departments. Ray is the Honorary Solicitor for the South East London Chamber of Commerce and a member of The Law Management Section of The Law Society.
Web: www.grantsaw.com
Twitter: @GrantSaw