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Lexcel - the Law Society's Practice Management Standard

Lexcel a help or a chore?

Many of our clients have told us that they have held the Lexcel accreditation for a few years, but are seriously thinking of giving it up.spWhy should this be?

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Perceived PROBLEM The PROBLEM with the problem

So much time is spent on Lexcel! But most of what Lexcel requires is already required by the Law Society/Solicitors' Regulation Authority

So much of the detail of what is required amounts to unnecessary admin. - work for the sake of work But we always say that we would want most of what Lexcel wants, for the sake of the firm's governance.

Some areas are just impossible to deal with in a practical way And yet giving up the Standard would send out all the wrong signals, to our clients, our insurers and other firms!

If you are grappling with dilemmas like these - and they are not uncommon - then help is available.spThere are differences between what the Standard actually requires and what firms have chosen to build into their "Lexcel" systems.spUnsurprisingly, assessors will approve or criticise - their role is not to recommend ways to make implementation easier for you!

Often, the problems go back to consultants employed to set up "Lexcel-compliant" systems, who were themselves not properly familiar with the detail and the practical implementation of Lexcel.spSometimes it is a question of negotiating practically with the assessors - much easier achieved with the kind of knowledge and familiarity which we can offer you.

With many still becoming accustomed to Lexcel 3, the Standard is about to be updated again, reflecting the introduction of the SRA's Solicitors' Code of Conduct 2007. Now is a good time to reassess whether your systems could be better tailored to your needs, making Lexcel more of a help and less of a chore.

If you have got this far, we would strongly recommend an initial user-friendly consultation.

With excellent experience of making Lexcel easier to comply with and more useful (and with close links with the Lexcel office and Assessment Bodies), we are ideally placed to give the practical advice which you need.
Click here to contact us.

Perceived PROBLEM	The PROBLEM with the problem
So much time is spent on Lexcel!	But most of what Lexcel requires is already required by the Law Society/Solicitors' Regulation Authority
So much of the detail of what is required amounts to unnecessary admin. - work for the sake of work	But we always say that we would want most of what Lexcel wants, for the sake of the firm's governance.
Some areas are just impossible to deal with in a practical way	And yet giving up the Standard would send out all the wrong signals, to our clients, our insurers and other firms!