The Kidwells Lexcel journey
Kidwells established as a legal practice in 2008 and we take great pride in maintaining the prestigious Lexcel Accreditation every year since. This year marked a comprehensive reassessment for the firm, involving meticulous scrutiny of all aspects of our operations, and we are immensely proud to uphold our exceptional standards.
What is Lexel?
Lexcel stands as The Law Society’s hallmark for quality in legal practice.
Introduced in 1998, this accreditation signifies a commitment to excellence, demonstrating a firm’s dedication to robust practice management. It assures both existing and prospective clients of the firm’s foundation in trust and integrity.
All legal practices in England and Wales, irrespective of size or specialisation, are eligible for Lexcel accreditation, including sole practitioners and local authority legal departments.
How to Attain Accreditation?
The accreditation process involves several steps:
- Completion of a self-assessment checklist for initial accreditation: This checklist aids firms in identifying areas for improvement to meet Lexcel standards.
- Assessment by a Lexcel consultant upon submission of the application form:
Who are Lexcel Consultants?
Lexcel consultants, approved by the Law Society and trained in Lexcel standards, collaborate with law firms nationwide to achieve excellence in compliance and practice management.
What’s Required for Lexcel Accreditation?
In summary, key requirements include:
- Client Care: A policy ensuring diligent client handling, competence in managing matters, confidentiality protection, and timely communication.
- Risk Management: A policy covering compliance, a risk register, and risk management protocols.
- People Management: Policies addressing health and safety, recruitment, complaints, diversity and equality, personnel training, and procedures for reasonable adjustments.
- Structure and Strategy: Defined legal framework and management structure outlining individual responsibilities and accountability.
- Financial Management: Comprehensive records of income and expenditure.
- Information Management: Policies for information management and security.
- File and Case Management: Procedures governing matter oversight and management.
Re-accreditation Process
Following Lexcel accreditation, a three-year assessment cycle commences, comprising:
- Annual maintenance visits at the end of the first and second years.
- A full reassessment at the end of the third year.