The Gough Law practice is understood to have become the first law firm in the island to achieve ‘Lexcel’ accreditation from the Law Society of England & Wales.
They are one of only 24 international law firms , outside of England and Wales, to be awarded the prestigious quality mark for excellence in legal practice management and client care.
The accreditation is designed specifically for the legal profession and assures that a practice excels in all aspects of business management,client care and risk.
Andrew Caplen, president of the Law Society of England & Wales said: ‘Gaining and maintaining Lexcel is no mean feat.
‘There are many facets of being a Lexcel accredited law firm, including client care. A commitment to customer service in today’s ever more competitive legal services market is vital. The scheme is a beacon of quality to clients and potential clients alike.’
In order to achieve the accreditation, the team has undergone a rigorous process of reviewing and creating new policies and procedures throughout and working them into the firm’s existing system in order to achieve the strict requirements of the international standard.
The new policies were put into practice for three months prior to an onsite assessment by a qualified Lexcel assessor.
During the two day assessment, all relevant documentation was reviewed, staff at all levels were interviewed and a random selection of working files was inspected.
The firm was recommended for the accreditation and received its certificate from the Law Society shortly thereafter.
Practice manager, Helen Gough said: ‘We are extremely proud of our achievement which will benefit both ourselves and our clients.
‘We strive to provide an excellent service and the Lexcel accreditation is formal recognition of our efforts.
‘It was an arduous process which all in all took about eight months to complete and was something that we could not have done without the involvement and support of our whole team.
‘I am confident that it will be of significant value to Gough Law and its clients going forward.’
The firm will be reassessed annually to ensure that the Lexcel quality standard is maintained.
Gough Law is a specialist firm of litigation advocates offering advice and assistance in the conduct of contentious legal disputes. Further information about the firm can be found at www.goughlaw.im