Specialist Quality Mark
Our firm, Milestone Solicitors, contracted DG Law to run various legal aid immigration training sessions. Amie Higgins, a consultant at DG Legal gave such a clear step by step guide that helped us not only to run our legal aid matters in an easy and efficient manner in no time, but to successfully get SQM accreditation in what felt like an effortless way. Amie has been there with ready advice for every question we have had, with detailed explanations of the procedure and the law, drafting templates for any possible step or correspondence to ensure compliance with the best care for the client and their matter. After our training, it felt like we have been running legal aid for years. Huge thanks to Amie. Highly recommended.
Alketa Shuli
Head of Immigration | Milestone Solicitors
Why instruct us?
We have a unique level of expertise in this area. Due to the combined experience of our team, we are able to offer unrivalled advice and assistance in relation to the Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) and are experts in relation to the auditing process.
We have helped hundreds of firms in relation to achieving and maintaining the SQM and have provided consultancy advice and assistance to more than 700 other firms.
Of particular note, we are proud that:
- our consultants have been instructed by the Legal Aid Agency's predecessor body (the Legal Services Commission), the SQM Delivery Partnership and Recognising Excellence to train their auditors;
- many of our consultants are also registered with the SQM auditing body to conduct actual SQM audits; and
- members of our team currently attend, on behalf of representative groups, the Legal Aid Agency Contract Compliance Working Group, a committee set up to work with the LAA and the National Audit Office on audit activity.
As our consultants conduct audits for firms across the country, as well as offering assistance to our clients, we benefit from a wealth of knowledge and experience of the audit process and the current key focusses for assessors. We are also known to a number of other auditors, who regularly compliment the excellent preparation and exceptional levels of compliance demonstrated by firms we work with.
Our Services
We offer consultancy services to ensure that your organisation passes the SQM audit and/or maintains the quality mark. We assist all types of legal practices, in-house legal departments and other organisations and ensure that our services are tailored to the needs of the individual organisation.
As well as offering our extremely popular retainer service or bespoke consultancy, there is also our SQM mock audit service. We also offer training courses covering key topics to ensure compliance with the SQM standard and other regulations.
SQM Mock Audit
We usually carry out a comprehensive gap analysis of your current systems and procedures against the SQM Standard, followed by up to a further day preparing a detailed mock audit report. The format of the report mirrors the report you will be provided by the auditor following your actual SQM audit.
In addition, we will also provide you with an action plan and detailed advice and guidance on how to fully demonstrate compliance. We can also provide the necessary documents, templates and proformas to ensure that you have in place everything that is required and that all documentation is compliant and up to date. You can be confident that, after our mock audit, you will have all the tools at your disposal to pass your full SQM audit.
Retainer Service
Alternatively, there is our popular retainer service.
The purpose of the retainer service is to ensure that organisations are one step ahead of the game by maintaining a managerial system which meets or exceeds the requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Legal Aid Agency (where relevant) in addition to maintaining their quality assurance system.
The retainer service is tailored to the needs of the client. The service includes the preparation of policies and procedures to meet the firm’s compliance requirements, email and telephone advice and assistance, as well as regular bulletins and briefings to ensure you remain up to date with the latest developments across the legal profession.
Please contact us for further details about our retainer service.
SQM Standard Training Requirements Course
Our online Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) Standard Training Requirements Course covers key topics to ensure compliance with the SQM Standard and other regulations.
The SQM Standard requires firms to provide training for staff covering:
- Safeguarding
- Equality and Diversity
- Data Protection
- Anti-Money Laundering.
Providing training in these areas is also crucial in meeting your regulatory obligations including the SRA’s Standards and Regulations. The course will also assist your firm to meet your legal obligations with the:
- Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
- Bribery Act 2010
- Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
- Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017
- Equality Act 2010.
The online course is suitable for staff of all levels, from support staff to senior Partners.
Comprehensive and up to date course notes are provided to all delegates which may be useful for ongoing reference or cascade training.
Our current course availability can be found by clicking HERE.
Delegates from firms with a current retainer contract with DG Legal benefit from discounts across our range of courses.
Safeguarding for Lawyers Course
This training is for lawyers who may come into contact with vulnerable people through their work. In particular, it is aimed at those who hold legal aid contracts and must meet the requirements of the Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) standard in respect of safeguarding.
Everyone has the right to be kept safe from harm, abuse or neglect. We all have obligations to ensure that vulnerable people are protected and that we have appropriate procedures in place to ensure that abuse is identified and reported.
We will help you to understand the following:
- What is safeguarding?
- The different types of abuse
- Example signs of abuse, harm and neglect
- What action should be taken if abuse is suspected
- The SQM requirements
- What a Safeguarding Policy should include
The online course is suitable for staff of all levels, from support staff to senior Partners.
Comprehensive and up to date course notes are provided to all delegates which may be useful for ongoing reference or cascade training.
Our current course availability can be found by clicking HERE.
Delegates from firms with a current retainer contract with DG Legal benefit from discounts across our range of courses.
Cannot fault the service. Very helpful and I always get swift replies with comprehensive information to any questions I raise. After my specialist quality mark audit I was surprised to get a call the next day asking how it went and offering support in relation to the next steps. They guided me through the audit and updated all my documents/policies, they look more professional than ever. The service has been second to none. Thank you DG Legal
Natalie Moore
Director, NjP Solicitors
Contact Us
To discover more about how we can help your firm, please call 01509 214 999, send us an email or complete our free enquiry form.