Lexcel

The Lexcel practice management standard is only awarded to solicitors who meet the high management and customer care standards. Lexcel accredited practices undergo rigorous independent assessment every year to ensure they meet required standards of excellence in areas such as client care, case management and risk management.

Scott Richards solicitors was initially awarded this accreditation in January 2011 and we have just successfully completed our third annual independent assessment, giving us accreditation for a further 12 months.

Accredited practices get fewer complaints and claims against them than other practices. By choosing Scott Richards solicitors, who are Lexcel accredited you can be sure you will get:

• a timely response to all client communications
• regular and accurate cost estimates
• information on how charges will be calculated.

Legal Sector Alliance

The Legal Sector Alliance is an inclusive movement of law firms and organisations committed to working collaboratively to take action on climate change by reducing their carbon footprint and adopting environmentally sustainable practices.

We signed up to the Alliance in June 2011.

Here at Scott Richards solicitors, we believe that acting on climate change is in our collective interest and that a greater impact can be achieved through collaborative action and the sharing of knowledge and experience than could otherwise be achieved by the efforts of individual firms.

To act as a framework for individual and collective action, the legal Sector Alliance has developed a set of principles, which cover members’ own operations, as well as their wider influence on employees, suppliers, clients and policy makers.

Conveyancing Quality Scheme

The Conveyancing Quality Scheme provides a recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practices. As members Scott Richards solicitors have established a level of credibility among clients, regulators, lenders and insurers based upon:

• the integrity of the Senior Responsible Officer and other key conveyancing staff.
• the firm’s adherence to good practice management standards.
• adherence to prudent and efficient conveyancing procedures through the scheme protocol.

The scheme has created a trusted community which will deter fraud and  year on year will drive up standards.

The scheme is overseen by the Law Society.

Community Legal Service

The Community Legal Service is a network of firms who can provide legal aid services. Scott Richards solicitors can offer this service to help fund certain individuals who are experiencing relationship breakdowns and wider family problems. This was formerly known as “Legal Aid”.

Scott Richards solicitors achieved accreditation to this at its conception in 2000 when it was awarded a Quality Mark in Family Law.

Resolution

Resolution, (formerly known as the Solicitors Family Law Association ), is an organisation of  approximately 5700 lawyers who believe in a constructive, non-confrontational approach to family law matters. Resolution also campaigns for improvements to the family justice system.

Resolution supports the development of family lawyers through its national and regional training programmes, through publications and good practice guides and through its accreditation scheme. Resolution also trains and accredits mediators and is the only body providing training and support for collaborative lawyers in England and Wales.

The cornerstone of membership of Resolution is adherence to a Code of Practice, which sets out the principles of a non-confrontational approach to family law matters. The principles of the code are widely recognised and have been adopted by the Law Society as recommended good practice for all family lawyers.

Scott Richards solicitors are members and as such follow a Code of Practice which promotes an approach to family law that is sensitive, constructive, cost-effective and most likely to result in an agreement.

Children Panel Accreditation Scheme

Pennie Lennon is a Children Representative having achieved recognition for her expertise in child care law. As such Pennie can act for children in all proceedings where there is provision to do so under the Children Act 1989, the Adoption Act 1976 and the Adoption and Children Act 2002. This means Pennie can represent guardians, parents, grandparents and some other adult parties in public law proceedings.

The scheme is overseen by the Law Society