We offer consultancy on all Quality Assurance and Legal Services Commission Contracting matters and most business management matters.

You can consult us on specific matters or ask us to get involved in a particular project.  For instance, clients often ask us to perform a brief annual health check to make sure that they are complying with the obligations laid down by the Unified Contract in addition to their obligations as specified by the Solicitors Regulation Authority; or to provide them with practical advice on implementation, strategy and managing the effect of fixed fees.

We also provide training and mock audit services in relation to Peer Review (by using experienced solicitors), Key Performance Indicators and LSC Contract Compliance & Costs Assessment Audits and also aid organisations wishing to appeal their audit results. Our success rate compares extremely favourably with the national average. Please feel free to ask for details.

Alternatively, there is our popular retainer service.

The purpose of the retainer service is to ensure that you are one step ahead of the game by maintaining a managerial system which meets or exceeds the requirements of the LSC and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). This should contribute towards a feeling of being in control of things and will also leave you to concentrate upon fee earning.

In addition to maintaining your quality assurance system, we will also provide you with advice and assistance about major reforms which are being introduced by the LSC and the SRA.

What work is covered under a retainer agreement?

This is agreed in advance and varies from client to client depending upon what tasks they prefer to keep in-house and the frequency of our visits.

Maintenance of Personnel Records

Job Descriptions
Training Plans
Training Records
Induction Records

We either check that the records are being maintained ‘on site’ at your offices or we can keep these records up to date at our office.

Financial Records

Annual Budget
Variance analysis
Work in Progress Reports

The preparation of the budget and maintenance of your accounts is the responsibility of a client’s book-keeper or accountant. However, we notify our clients if the budget or variance analysis is out of date or is not compliant with the requirements of the SRA Code of Contract.

File Reviews

We check that the file review programme is up to date and is in effective operation.

For some clients, we help to actively manage their file review system and carry out the procedural aspects of the file reviews so helping to prevent common problems recurring.

Business Plan

After discussion and consultation with the client, we prepare and update business plans on our client’s behalf. The plan can be as succinct or as detailed as the client prefers.

Central Registers

Complaints
Undertakings
Approved barristers and other experts
Client Satisfaction Questionnaires
File reviews

The central registers are of course located in our clients’ offices. We check at every visit to a client’s office that these records are kept up to date and compliant.

Office Procedures Manual

We either update our clients’ existing manuals or provide them with an up to date manual which is compliant with the SQM and the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct.

LSC Performance Analysis

The LSC monitor your performance by way of using KPI, Quality Profiles and CMRC reports. We would evaluate these reports on your behalf and provide concise advice about what action is required.

Profitability Analysis

This would involve us carrying out a detailed benchmarking analysis for you. The purpose of benchmarking analysis is to identify areas of your business which are ‘out of profile’ compared with other legal suppliers.

The benchmarking analysis is a useful comparative tool as it provides objective information to the Partnership about the firm’s strengths and weaknesses and also helps to suggest which areas should be focussed upon.  This can then be followed up with an analysis of the firm’s ledgers to identify significant cost drivers and establish whether major savings can be made as a result of a change of supplier and/or a change in the way in which these costs occur.

A report can then produced with clear, concise recommendations in order to assist with increasing the profitability of the firm.

Frequency of visits to your office(s)

Retainer services are usually offered on a quarterly basis although we do offer monthly and bi-monthly visits too.

Other work carried out at our offices to keep your system compliant is included in this service in addition to unlimited advice by telephone or e-mail.

There is no commitment in choosing a retainer service and clients may cancel at any time.

Other Benefits

Our retainer clients also benefit from the following as part of their retainer agreement:

• 50% discount on any DG Legal courses offered externally
  
  
• Cost reduction consultancy
  
  
• Access to a free Employment Law and Health & Safety advice helpline manned by a team of experienced non-practising employment lawyers and Health & Safety specialists (subject to a maximum of 10 calls per annum)
  
  
• Significant discounts on Professional Indemnity insurance (in August/September 2007, we were able to deliver a minimum 10% discount compared with last year’s premium paid)