Chadwick Lawrence has Passed its 2020 Lexcel Audit

Lexcel is the Law Society’s Quality Standard given annually to those firms who have attained a high level of regulatory compliance. The firm was first awarded the Lexcel standard in 2004, and has been re-accredited every year since.

The audit usually takes place every May, but with Law Society permission was postponed.

The auditor, Philip Knight, of the assessment body Inspiring Business Performance Limited, acknowledged “the achievement of such a high level of compliance and consistency across the firm, it can rightly consider itself an exemplar of the Lexcel standard.”

Nick Worsnop, partner and the firm’s compliance officer, said “We are really pleased to receive the re accreditation for the seventeenth year in succession. It is a great credit to all our staff. The audit took place under different, and difficult circumstances, remotely during July. I am really impressed with the way it was handled both by our auditor but also the responsiveness and assistance to delaying the audit given by the Law Society.”

The auditor also commented in his report; “Interviewees reported that the IT department had provided an excellent level of service support, ensuring that those working from home could continue to be effective in a largely seamless transition of arrangements.”

Neil Wilson, the firm’s managing partner, said; “The firm went into lockdown on 23rd March and since that point staff have worked from home. It is testament to our IT department also that this has been possible, and pleasing to note the comment by Mr Knight about that. Despite home working, we have continued to deliver a full legal service to all our clients, old and new. Dependent upon developments, we are now looking at beginning a phased return to working in the offices from August, for those who are comfortable doing so. We will also be opening the doors of some of our offices for pre-arranged appointments.

“We have carried out full risk assessments at each of our sites and each have their own policies and procedures in place where they are to open.”