William Weller, the Managing Partner of local solicitors Thatcher + Hallam LLP is delighted to have been told this week that his firm has passed its annual Lexcel accreditation audit with flying colours. Lexcel is an accreditation system introduced by the Law Society in 1998 that indicates whether a law firm has achieved sufficient quality in all matters relating to legal practice management standards.

'For firms like ourselves, Lexcel is an extremely big deal,' explains William. 'Any professional firm can boast that their priority is looking after the interests of their clients, but with the Lexcel management standard, you actually have to prove that you practice what you preach. Lexcel is only awarded to the firms that meet the highest management and customer care services.'

'On our part, achieving Lexcel status (which we have now held for many years) takes a great deal of time and effort,' says William. 'However, it is well worth all that effort. What it does is signal to both our existing and prospective clients that they can be confident in instructing us, safe in the knowledge that we have passed a rigorous independent audit that confirms that we have achieved the highest standards in file and case management, client care and risk management.'

As well as passing the audit, the firm was also cited for 13 areas of good practice. For William Weller however, what was most gratifying was the praise given to the practice by the Lexcel auditor on how Thatcher + Hallam proactively dealt with coping with lockdown.

'We must be one of the first practices in the south west to be audited post full lockdown,' says William. 'It was great to read how the auditor was 'extremely impressed' on how the firm has managed issues around the pandemic and the focus and energy we have given to marketing the firm digitally to ensure its continued success. We were also given specific praise for instigating our Commercial Property Hotline as well as our Virtual Legal Surgery.'

'A final word must however go to all of our staff,' adds William. 'Throughout the most trying and challenging of times and circumstances, they all still maintained a service of excellence for our clients. Their level of dedication and commitment deserves a huge 'thank you' from my fellow partners and myself.'