Lexcel accreditation

Lexcel is the Law Society’s national quality standard for firms of solicitors. Your firm may be considering Lexcel assessment or already be committed to it. Since 2009, the number of firms of solicitors seeking Lexcel accreditation has accelerated, as a result of the pressure from PI insurers for firms to prepare for Lexcel assessment and the growing number of clients who are making Lexcel accreditation a condition of tender submissions.

Lexcel benefits

• Help with SRA inspections
• Lead to reductions in annual PI premiums - sometimes big ones
• Raise quality standards across your firm
• Raise the effectiveness of your firm’s marketing
• Provide excellent risk management procedures
• Enable your firm to compete for tenders for local authority and other client work as a Lexcel-accredited firm
• Provide a clear framework of Lexcel-compliant procedures describing how your firm works for new staff

We provide

• All Lexcel-required procedures and forms, in draft
• Attendance of a Law Society-accredited Lexcel Lead Consultant at meetings at your offices to help adapt those drafts and start your firm using them
• Knowledge of what Lexcel Assessors are looking for, and advice on preparations for Lexcel assessment.
• Regular e-mail contact to resolve queries and exchange travelling draft Lexcel procedures
• If required, participation in Lexcel briefing meetings for your staff to inform them and involve them
• Any training in new Lexcel procedures that may be required
• A pre-assessment audit of your working procedures before you agree a final Lexcel assessment date.

Our track record

We have advised over 100 firms of solicitors on Lexcel assessment and/or Investors in People assessment. Each one has succeeded at first-time assessment. Our principal Lexcel Consultant is also a Lexcel Assessor, and so we are able to advise on exactly what Assessors are looking for in terms of compliance with the Lexcel quality standard.

Your next step

Contact us for an initial, without-commitment discussion on where your firm currently stands vis-a-vis the Lexcel requirements. We may want to visit your firm as part of an initial diagnosis and to help us produce a Lexcel Action Plan for your firm, and to give you an accurate estimate of the costs involved in preparing for Lexcel assessment.