Excellent recent webinar on Business Continuity – very generously offered for free to help practitioners at a difficult time. The format and presenters were first rate as was the follow up. Thank you!
Carita Thomas
Solicitor, ATLEU
Index
2020 Upcoming Webinars
A Guide to Peer Review Series:
- 13 October 2020: A Guide to Housing Peer Review – FREE Webinar
- 27 October 2020: A Guide to Family Peer Review – FREE Webinar
Future Free Webinars:
- 3 November 2020: Third Party Managed Accounts – FREE Webinar
- 10 November 2020: PEPs, Simplified CDD & Enhanced CDD – FREE Webinar
- TBA: The new Stage 2(c) fee and the appellant’s skeleton argument – FREE Webinar
2020 Recorded Webinars
- Anti-Money Laundering Overview Webinar
- A Guide to Immigration Peer Review Webinar
- A Guide to Mental Health Peer Review Webinar
- SRA Authorisation Rules and New Firm Authorisation Webinar
- A Guide to Crime Peer Review Webinar
- Use of MyHMCTS for Immigration Appeals Webinar
- Working with the Legal Aid Agency Webinar
- Remote SQM Audits During Covid-19 Webinar
- Legal News Exchange: Return to the Workplace Webinar
- How to Ensure your Law Firm Thrives Webinar
- SRA Transparency Rules Webinar
- Remote Lexcel Assessment Webinar
- Business Continuity During the Coronavirus Webinar
Ongoing Course:
Subscribe to our Training Course Updates
2020 Upcoming Webinars
A Guide to Peer Review Series
In September and October 2020, we are holding a series of free 60 minutes webinars to provide firms with an insight into the way Peer Reviews conduct audits in the following categories:
- Mental Health
- Immigration
- Housing
- Family
A Guide to Housing Peer Review
This free 60 minutes webinar will assist firms in understanding the Legal Aid Agency’s approach to Peer Review in the Housing category and will provide an invaluable insight into the way that Peer Reviewers conduct the audit.
Key Content
- Why and how the Peer Review system was brought in by the LSC
- An overview of the Peer Review process
- What Peer Reviewers look for
- Examples of good & poor practice
- The importance of using high quality template attendance notes & letters
- Questions & Answers
Date and Time
The webinar will be held on Tuesday 13 October 2020 at 1pm.
Registration
To register for this free event, please click HERE or complete the registration details below:
Questions
We are inviting attendees to submit any questions that they would like to be discussed during the webinar. A selection of the most common questions / themes will be answered during the webinar. Questions should be submitted by email. The deadline for questions is 5pm on Friday 9 October 2020.
Speakers
Professor Avrom Sherr, Professor Emeritus, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
Avrom Sherr is the principal architect of a system of assessment of legal competence known as Independent Peer Review. Since 2002 this has been used as the system for assessment of the quality of publicly funded work in the UK, ensuring the quality of legal services received by the public, and he leads the operation of this work. He is currently Chair of the Hamlyn Trust and the Advice Quality Standards Project Committee. Recent work includes advising Georgia Legal Aid and the Chinese Ministry of Justice in relation to Legal Aid and the maintenance of quality in legal work; ethical research for Save The Children and safeguarding for the UKRI GCRF Accelerate Hub.
Will Flack, Consultant, DG Legal
William is a freelance solicitor and has specialised in housing law for the last twenty years. Before working freelance William worked as an in house supervisor then set up his own specialist firm. William has been a member of the management committees of two Law Centres and has worked as a volunteer in the not for profit sector. He has also worked on County Court Duty Rotas and was a Legal Aid Peer Reviewer between 2009 and 2012. William provides coaching and advisory services to organisations wishing to ensure that their caseworkers are providing excellent advice and are following best practice.
Melanie Gonga, Director & Head of Legal Practice, Springfield Advice & Law Centre
Melanie started her career in private practice, where she trained across multiple areas of law and worked under various forms of funding. She qualified, to specialise in housing, in 1997, where she remained for a further 6 years. After leaving private practice, Melanie started work at a Law Centre, where she spent 10 years as a supervising solicitor, having responsibility for the smooth-running of her branch office, for the supervision of trainees and was a County Court Duty Solicitor.
Her current post is that of Director & Head of Legal Practice at a small Law Centre, whose main client-group comprises mental health service users. Melanie has been a Housing Peer Reviewer for almost 15 years, became a Senior Panel Member in 2008, and has assisted in training subsequent Peer Reviewers and in writing the Housing Peer Review Guide. Melanie credits her approach to her work and clients, to many years spent dealing with vulnerable adults, her time spent in odd-jobs – from outdoor clerking, to patient-services, to retail – and a pragmatic approach to life.
David Gilmore, Director, DG Legal
David founded DG Legal in 2000. He has provided advice and assistance to hundreds of law firms and other legal organisations. He delivers specialist consultancy and training on a wide range of topics including business management & strategy, tendering, compliance and quality assurance. In 2016 David was appointed as a Commissioner advising Lord Bach on policy relating to Justice and Legal Aid.
A Guide to Family Peer Review
This free 60 minutes webinar will assist firms in understanding the Legal Aid Agency’s approach to Peer Review in the Family category and will provide an invaluable insight into the way that Peer Reviewers conduct the audit.
Key Content
- Why and how the Peer Review system was brought in by the LSC
- An overview of the Peer Review process
- What Peer Reviewers look for
- Examples of good & poor practice
- The importance of using high quality template attendance notes & letters
- Questions & Answers
Date and Time
The webinar will be held on Tuesday 27 October 2020 at 1pm.
Registration
To register for this free event, please click HERE or complete the registration details below:
Questions
We are inviting attendees to submit any questions that they would like to be discussed during the webinar. A selection of the most common questions / themes will be answered during the webinar. Questions should be submitted by email. The deadline for questions is 5pm on Friday 23 October 2020.
Speakers
Professor Avrom Sherr, Professor Emeritus, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
Avrom Sherr is the principal architect of a system of assessment of legal competence known as Independent Peer Review. Since 2002 this has been used as the system for assessment of the quality of publicly funded work in the UK, ensuring the quality of legal services received by the public, and he leads the operation of this work. He is currently Chair of the Hamlyn Trust and the Advice Quality Standards Project Committee. Recent work includes advising Georgia Legal Aid and the Chinese Ministry of Justice in relation to Legal Aid and the maintenance of quality in legal work; ethical research for Save The Children and safeguarding for the UKRI GCRF Accelerate Hub.
Jon Platt, Consultant, DG Legal
Jon is a Solicitor specialising in Children and Family law. He is widely respected as a legal authority in the North West region and provides expert coaching and advisory services to law firms seeking advice about Peer Review or legal development.
For over 30 years, he was BBC Radio Manchester’s Legal Eagle. He has been President of both the Oldham Law Association and the Association of North West Law Societies. Jon was chosen by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to be a Senior Peer Reviewer. He also served on the LSC’s North West Legal Services Committee. Jon feels passionately about ensuring access to justice for people on low incomes and has been a Director of a Law Centre and also founded Platt Halpern in Oldham in 1985.
Louise Garner, Director, Otten Penna Family Law Solicitors
Louise qualified in 1985 and joined Otten Penna in October 2000. Louise has been a member of the Law Society Children Panel since 1988, a member of the Family Law panel since its inception and became a member of the Advanced Family Law Panel in 2002. Louise undertakes all aspects of children law including care proceedings, adoption and Special Guardianship, as well as dealing with clients subject to Domestic Violence. In 2018 Louise was granted Higher Rights to advocate in the High Court and continues to undertake more complex cases, now being able to conduct all the advocacy, regardless of the level of court.
David Gilmore, Director, DG Legal
David founded DG Legal in 2000. He has provided advice and assistance to hundreds of law firms and other legal organisations. He delivers specialist consultancy and training on a wide range of topics including business management & strategy, tendering, compliance and quality assurance. In 2016 David was appointed as a Commissioner advising Lord Bach on policy relating to Justice and Legal Aid.
Future Free Webinars
Third Party Managed Accounts Webinar
This free 30-minutes webinar will provide firms with an increased understanding and explain the many benefits of Third Party Managed Accounts.
Key Contents
- Overview of Third Party Managed Accounts
- How Third Party Managed Accounts work for law firms
- Benefits and added protection of Third Party Managed Accounts
- Q&A
Date and Time
The webinar will be held on Tuesday 3 November at 3pm.
Registration
To register for this free event, please click HERE or complete the registration details below:
Speakers
Darren Whelan, Director of Education and Development, ILFM
Geoff Dunnett, Professional Services Director, Shieldpay
Geoff Dunnett is director of Shieldpay Professional Services. Geoff is a qualified solicitor and practised as a project finance lawyer at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy and Mayer Brown, before working as an independent legal consultant to start-ups and lastly as a business associate for Techstars -Barclays tech accelerator. Geoff’s transactional law experience has helped form the functionality of Shieldpay’s third-party-managed account and corporate escrow offering.
David Gilmore, Director, DG Legal
David founded DG Legal in 2000. He has provided advice and assistance to hundreds of law firms and other legal organisations. He delivers specialist consultancy and training on a wide range of topics including business management & strategy, tendering, compliance and quality assurance. In 2016 David was appointed as a Commissioner advising Lord Bach on policy relating to Justice and Legal Aid.
PEPs, Simplified CDD & Enhanced CDD Webinar
As part of our Anti-Money Laundering Webinar Series, we are holding a free 20 minutes webinar to assist firms in understanding PEPs, simplified CDD & enhanced CDD.
Key Content
- What is a PEP
- How does a firm know if their client is a PEP
- The difference between simplified CDD & enhanced CDD
- Why and when simplified CDD & enhanced CDD are implemented
Date and Time
The webinar will be held on Tuesday 10 November at 2pm.
Registration
To register for this free event, please click HEREor complete the registration details below:
Speakers
Pat Estabrook, Consultant, DG Legal
Pat has a hugely impressive amount of experience in compliance having worked for the Legal Complaints Service, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and as Head of Compliance of a large private law firm. Pat’s particular areas of expertise include SRA compliance, file reviews and complaints handling but she has also a wealth of practical experience in law firm management.
David Gilmore, Director, DG Legal
David founded DG Legal in 2000. He has provided advice and assistance to hundreds of law firms and other legal organisations. He delivers specialist consultancy and training on a wide range of topics including business management & strategy, tendering, compliance and quality assurance. In 2016 David was appointed as a Commissioner advising Lord Bach on policy relating to Justice and Legal Aid.
The new Stage 2(c) fee and the appellant’s skeleton argument
Further details to be announced.
Please send us an email if you would like to receive updates regarding this webinar or subscribe to receive our webinar updates.
2020 Recorded Webinars
Anti-Money Laundering Overview Webinar
On 29 September 2020 we held a free webinar to assist firms in understanding Anti-Money Laundering and their obligations under the legislation.
Key Content
- Legislative Framework
- Relevant Persons & Regulated Business
- MLRO / Nominated Officer Responsibilities
- AML Policies & Procedures – Structure & Content
- A Risk Based Approach & Risk Factors
- Due Diligence Levels & Measures
- SARs, & Consent, & Penalties
Anti-Money Laundering Webinar Series
This webinar is being held as part of an Anti-Money Laundering webinar series. Future webinars will be held on the following subjects, further details will be announced in due course:
- The difference between simplified CDD & enhanced CDD, including why & when each is implemented.
- What is a PEP & how do I know if the client is a PEP
- How do I know if a client is in a high risk country as defined by FATF or a person on the financial sanctions list.
- How do I complete a high level risk analysis.
Recorded Webinar
Please see a recording of the webinar below:
Resources
We are pleased to share the Anti-Money Laundering Webinar Slideswith you.
Speakers
Pat Estabrook, Consultant, DG Legal
Pat has a hugely impressive amount of experience in compliance having worked for the Legal Complaints Service, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and as Head of Compliance of a large private law firm. Pat’s particular areas of expertise include SRA compliance, file reviews and complaints handling but she has also a wealth of practical experience in law firm management.
David Gilmore, Director, DG Legal
David founded DG Legal in 2000. He has provided advice and assistance to hundreds of law firms and other legal organisations. He delivers specialist consultancy and training on a wide range of topics including business management & strategy, tendering, compliance and quality assurance. In 2016 David was appointed as a Commissioner advising Lord Bach on policy relating to Justice and Legal Aid.
A Guide to Immigration Peer Review
On 22 September 2020 we held a free webinar to assist firms in understanding the Legal Aid Agency’s approach to Peer Review in the Immigration category and will provide an invaluable insight into the way that Peer Reviewers conduct the audit.
Key Content
- Why and how the Peer Review system was brought in by the LSC
- An overview of the Peer Review process
- What Peer Reviewers look for
- Examples of good & poor practice
- The importance of using high quality template attendance notes & letters
- Questions & Answers
Recorded Webinar
Please see a recording of the webinar below:
Resources
We are pleased to share the A Guide to Immigration Peer Review Webinar Slides with you.
Speakers
Professor Avrom Sherr, Professor Emeritus, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
Avrom Sherr is the principal architect of a system of assessment of legal competence known as Independent Peer Review. Since 2002 this has been used as the system for assessment of the quality of publicly funded work in the UK, ensuring the quality of legal services received by the public, and he leads the operation of this work. He is currently Chair of the Hamlyn Trust and the Advice Quality Standards Project Committee. Recent work includes advising Georgia Legal Aid and the Chinese Ministry of Justice in relation to Legal Aid and the maintenance of quality in legal work; ethical research for Save The Children and safeguarding for the UKRI GCRF Accelerate Hub.
Amie Higgins, Consultant, DG Legal
Amie is a Senior Solicitor, qualified under the Law Society’s Immigration & Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS) as an Advanced Caseworker and Supervisor. As a Consultant and Training Lead for ATLEU, Amie specialises in all aspects of Asylum and Human Rights work, with a specialism in anti-trafficking and modern slavery cases.
Amie is an experienced trainer and offers bespoke training courses designed to meet your requirements.
Anna Skehan, Head of Legal Practice, Migrant and Refugee Children’s Legal Unit
Anna Skehan is the Children and Young Person’s specialist solicitor and Head of Legal Practice at the Migrant and Refugee Children’s Legal Unit (MiCLU) based at Islington Law Centre and is a supervising solicitor on the Kids in Need of Defense UK programme, specialising in applications to register undocumented children with long residence in the UK. Anna also runs and supervises complex immigration and asylum cases for children and young people and has been a consultant Peer Reviewer to the Legal Aid Agency in the immigration and asylum category since 2006.
David Gilmore, Director, DG Legal
David founded DG Legal in 2000. He has provided advice and assistance to hundreds of law firms and other legal organisations. He delivers specialist consultancy and training on a wide range of topics including business management & strategy, tendering, compliance and quality assurance. In 2016 David was appointed as a Commissioner advising Lord Bach on policy relating to Justice and Legal Aid.
A Guide to Mental Health Peer Review
On 15 September 2020 we held a free 60 minutes webinar to assist firms in understanding the Legal Aid Agency’s approach to Peer Review in the Mental Health category. This webinar provides an invaluable insight into the way that Peer Reviewers conduct the audit.
Key Content
- Why and how the Peer Review system was brought in by the LSC
- An overview of the Peer Review process
- What Peer Reviewers look for
- Examples of good & poor practice
- The importance of using high quality template attendance notes & letters
- Questions & Answers
Recorded Webinar
Please see a recording of the webinar below:
Resources
We are pleased to share the A Guide to Mental Health Peer Review Webinar Slides with you.
Speakers
Professor Avrom Sherr, Professor Emeritus, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
Avrom Sherr is the principal architect of a system of assessment of legal competence known as Independent Peer Review. Since 2002 this has been used as the system for assessment of the quality of publicly funded work in the UK, ensuring the quality of legal services received by the public, and he leads the operation of this work. He is currently Chair of the Hamlyn Trust and the Advice Quality Standards Project Committee. Recent work includes advising Georgia Legal Aid and the Chinese Ministry of Justice in relation to Legal Aid and the maintenance of quality in legal work; ethical research for Save The Children and safeguarding for the UKRI GCRF Accelerate Hub.
Tam Gill, Principal Solicitor, Gledhill Gill Solicitors
Tam Gill is Principal Solicitor at Gledhill Gill Solicitors in Brighton and is a mental health law solicitor, with a particular focus on forensic mental health law and practice. Tam is ranked in Chambers 2019 as a Band 1 lawyer for Healthcare : Mental Health. As well as representing clients, Tam also holds positions of Law Society Mental Health Panel assessor, Peer Reviewer and Independent Costs Assessor for the LAA. She has previously sat as an Associate Hospital Manager. Tam regularly delivers training in mental health law and practice to mental health practitioners including lawyers, psychiatrists and nursing staff and is a visiting lecturer at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Wessex Deanery.
Max Duddles, Consultant & Head of Department, Mander Cruickshank Solicitors
Max is a Consultant and Head of Department at Mander Cruickshank Solicitors, where he manages their Hinckley branch office and runs their mental health law department, which he also set-up. A specialist in the process and procedures surrounding mental health and mental capacity legislation, Max is also regularly asked to deliver training to legal professionals, as well as professionals in the health and social care sector. He is also periodically asked to appear on specialist medical and social care podcasts, write for various journals and websites and has collaborated in articles for several media outlets including the BBC, Channel 4, The Times, The Independent, The Nottingham Evening Post, The Leicester Mercury, Radio 5, Radio 5 Live, Trent FM and Hermitage FM.
David Gilmore, Director, DG Legal
David founded DG Legal in 2000. He has provided advice and assistance to hundreds of law firms and other legal organisations. He delivers specialist consultancy and training on a wide range of topics including business management & strategy, tendering, compliance and quality assurance. In 2016 David was appointed as a Commissioner advising Lord Bach on policy relating to Justice and Legal Aid.
SRA Authorisation Rules and New Firm Authorisation
On 28 July 2020 we held a free webinar to provide useful guidance for SRA authorised firms & individuals obtaining new firm authorisation.
Key Content
- Key Authorisation rules all firms must be aware of
- Changing entity
- New firm authorisation
- Alternative Business Structure (ABS) applications
- Key forms to be aware of
- Demonstrating compliance with the Standards and Regulations
Target Audience
This webinar is aimed at all SRA authorised firms and individuals looking to set up their own firm.
Please see a recording of the webinar below
Resources
We are pleased to share the SRA Authorisation Rules and New Firm Authorisation Webinar Slides and FAQs with you.
Speakers
David Gilmore, Director, DG Legal
David has provided advice and assistance to hundreds of law firms and other legal organisations. He delivers specialist consultancy and training on a wide range of topics including business management & strategy, tendering, compliance and quality assurance. In 2016 David was appointed as a Commissioner advising Lord Bach on policy relating to Justice and Legal Aid.
Rachel Lewis, Director of Authorisation, Contact Centre & Business Support Services, SRA
Rachel is a passionate believer in delivering customer-centric improvements that benefit the profession and public alike. Under her leadership this has led to the average time taken for the SRA to authorise firms being reduced from 9 months to just 8 weeks, and improvements within the SRA contact centre being recognised at the UK Contact Centre Awards and Institute of Customer Service.
A Guide to Crime Peer Review Webinar
On 9 July 2020 we held a free 60-minute webinar to assist firms in understanding the Legal Aid Agency’s approach to Peer Review in the Crime category. This webinar provides an invaluable insight into the way that Peer Reviewers conduct the audit.
Key Content
- An overview of the PR process
- Why the LAA are stepping up Peer Reviews
- The scoring system
- What Peer Reviewers look for
- Examples of good practice
- Examples of poor practice
- Specimen client care letters, proformas and forms
- Tips and pitfalls to avoid
Why you should view the webinar
Influenced by the knowledge, skills and experience of ex-Senior Peer Reviewers we aim for providers to be in the best position possible by increasing their knowledge in relation to the PR audit process. By the end of this webinar, delegates will be better informed and more able to get the best possible PR grading.
Please see a recording of the webinar below
Resources
We are pleased to share the A Guide to Peer Review – Crime Webinar Slides and FAQs with you.
If you would like to obtain a copy of the detailed guidance notes, please send us an email to request a copy of the document.
About the Presenters
Geoff trained and qualified as a magistrates’ court clerk before joining Stevens Solicitors in Stoke on Trent in 1989. He became the Senior/Managing Partner in 2001 and the practice has grown to become one of the largest criminal defence practices in the country.
Geoff was appointed as a Peer Reviewer in crime in 2004 and thereafter was appointed a senior panel member, reviewing and validating the work of other peer reviewers and actively involved in peer reviewer training. During his 12 years as a peer reviewer, he has carried out and validated very many reports.
Philip Whittaker, Independent Consultant
Philip qualified as a solicitor in 1972. He has chaired several Law Society, Legal Aid Agency and Criminal Injury Compensation Board Groups.
Philip answered Professor Avrom Sherr’s first advert for crime Peer Reviewers and he was an active Peer Reviewer between 2005 and 2014. In 2007 he was appointed by Professor Sherr as his Consultant for Crime Peer Review in England and Wales and he remains in post.
Use of MyHMCTS for Immigration Appeals Webinar
On 3 July 2020 we held a free webinar to assist firms in understanding how to navigate the Tribunal’s new online platform, which became mandatory for most Immigration appeals on 22 June 2020.
Key Content
- How to Register & Invite Users
- The ASA
- Managing live cases
- Tips & Tricks
Target Audience
This webinar is aimed at all Immigration Practitioners.
Please see a recording of the webinar below
Resources
We are pleased to share the Use of MyHMCTS for Immigration Appeals Webinar Slides with you.
If you would like to obtain a copy of the detailed guidance notes, please send us an email to request a copy of the document.
About the Presenters
Amie is a Senior Solicitor, qualified under the Law Society’s Immigration & Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS) as an Advanced Caseworker and Supervisor. As a Consultant and Training Lead for ATLEU, Amie specialises in all aspects of Asylum and Human Rights work, with a specialism in anti-trafficking and modern slavery cases.
Amie is an experienced trainer and offers bespoke training courses designed to meet your requirements.
Chris Cole, Parker Rhodes Hickmotts
Chris is a Partner and Head of Immigration at Parker Rhodes Hickmotts Solicitors. He sits as a fee-paid Immigration Judge and has presided over numerous Reform appeals.
As a practitioner, Chris has been involved with the Reform pilot from the outset and has conducted many cases via the online system from inception, through preparation and advocacy to decision.
Working with the Legal Aid Agency Webinar
On 30 June 2020, we held a webinar with the Legal Aid Agency to provide firms with assistance in the management of their Legal Aid Contract during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The webinar looks ahead to how the Legal Aid Agency will manage the period following lockdown.
Key Content
- Q&A with an LAA National Contract Manager
- Covid-19 Guidance
- Financial Support / Assistance
- Approach to CM Visits / Audits
- Approach to Processing Claims
Target Audience
This webinar is aimed at all firms with an existing Legal Aid Contract. The content of the webinar is relevant to managers, principals and supervisors.
Please see a recording of the webinar below
Resources
We are pleased to share the Working with the Legal Aid Agency Webinar Slides with you.
About the Presenters
Steve joined DG Legal after leaving the Legal Aid Agency in August 2016. In his 17 years at the LAA, he worked in the audit team as both auditor and manager and was a Contract Manager for several years. Steve brings important insights into the way the LAA thinks about provider and contract management and provides useful information on how to best prepare for audit activity.
Jill Waring, National Contract Manager for London and the South East, Legal Aid Agency
Jill has been with the Legal Aid Agency for 17 years, having worked in many different roles including Case Management and primarily Contract Management. She is now the senior leader with responsibility for Legal Aid Contracts in London and the South East, leading the Contract Management and Assurance teams in London and Brighton. She also has responsibility for the Peer review team and is a member of the Contract Management and Assurance Senior Leadership Team.
Remote SQM Audits During Covid-19 Webinar
Recognising Excellence is currently offering the ability to undertake ‘remote’ SQM Audits. On 16 June 2020, we held a free 15-minute webinar to assist firms who are due to undertake their SQM Audit later this year, outlining options available and offering advice on how to prepare for such an audit.
Key Content
- Your options
- Will on-site assessments be allowed?
- Staff availability and furlough
- How to prepare for a remote audit
- Key elements required for a remote audit to take place
- How to overcome difficulties in providing remote access to files and central records
- How corrective action will be dealt with
Target Audience
This webinar is aimed at all firms who are scheduled to have an SQM Audit later this year.
Please see a recording of the webinar below
Resources
We are pleased to share the Remote SQM Audits During Covid-19 webinar Slides with you.
About the Presenter
Steve joined DG Legal after leaving the Legal Aid Agency in August 2016. In his 17 years at the LAA, he worked in the audit team as both auditor and manager and was a Contract Manager for several years.
Steve is also a certified SQM auditor and undertakes audits on behalf of Recognising Excellence as well as running training sessions for the SQM Audit Team periodically.
Steve has had some early experience of the remote audit process in the last few weeks, both in terms of auditing firms and assisting DG Legal clients in preparing for a remote audit and can therefore bring practical experience of the process to the training session.
Legal News Exchange: Return to the Workplace Webinar
Members of The Law Society’s Law Management Section Committee hosted the Legal News Exchange: Return to the Workplace webinar on 15 June 2020. This free online event covered the fundamental risk assessment checks and steps law firms should make now to ensure a safe return to the office; what the ‘new normal’ looks like for law firms which covers a practical plan for re-entering the workplace, and an example of how one high street law firm in Wales is preparing for the weeks and months ahead.
Key Content
- David Gilmore discusses risk assessments and the practical steps that law firms can take in preparing the office and their staff for a return to work after lockdown.
- Nadia Biles Davies discusses the future of work and working post COVID-19 including opportunities and challenges. Nadia suggests a practical plan for how law firms can assess what the ‘new normal’ looks like for them; key steps and considerations.
- Clive Thomas provides a practical case study into how Watkins & Gunn are preparing to adapt to a return to the office.
Target Audience
The webinar is suitable for law firm owners and partners, operations professionals, practice managers/directors and office managers.
Please see a recording of the webinar below
Resources
A number of useful resources are available to download from Legal News Wales website.
About the Presenters
David Gilmore, Director and Founder, DG Legal and LMS Committee Member
David founded DG Legal in 2000. It is the largest provider of strategic and compliance services operating in the legal sector only in England and Wales.
He has worked with hundreds of law firms and several government departments including the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Legal Services Commission. He has also advised dozens of charities involved in the legal sector.
David has designed software to assist practitioners including Email Checker and Compliance Caddy, a best in class cloud-based practice management software that reduces the time that the COLP, COFA and Practice Managers spend on compliance, GDPR and training administration. In 2016 David was appointed as a Commissioner advising Lord Bach on policy relating to Justice and Legal Aid.
Nadia Biles Davies, Chief Operating Officer, Sharpe Pritchard LLP and Vice Chair of the LMS
Nadia is Vice Chair of The Law Society’s Law Management Section; a community for partners, leaders and practice managers in legal businesses. The section provides support and guidance through their magazine, webinars, events and Financial Benchmarking Survey. Nadia is the chief operating officer at Sharpe Pritchard Solicitors and Parliamentary Agents where her focus is on strategic business operations, people management, marketing and business development.
Sharpe Pritchard acts for public bodies, commercial clients and other organisations on a wide range of public law matters including significant public sector projects. It has dedicated teams specialising in commercial assurance, adjudication advice and strategic consultancy support services.
Clive Thomas, Managing Partner, Watkins & Gunn and Co-opted Member of the LMS
Clive is the managing partner of South Wales law firm, Watkins & Gunn, specialising in personal injury work. He is a former winner of the Leading Wales Award for Leadership in the Private Sector.
Clive is a past president of Cardiff and District Law Society, Monmouthshire Incorporated Law Society and the Association of South Western Law Societies.
How to Ensure your Law Firm Thrives Webinar
On 9 June 2020 Samson Consulting ran this webinar exclusively for DG Legal. The webinar provides a proven system for law firm owners to produce all of the new client enquiries that they want and need.
Key Content
- What you should be doing now to keep your current clients happy and loyal to your firm; and
- What you should be doing to attract more of your ideal clients to your firm now and in the future.
- The simple marketing plan you can follow to grow your law firm consistently.
Please see a recording of the webinar below
Resources
A number of useful resources are available to download from Samson Consulting’s website.
Presenters
Nick Jervis, Samson Consulting
Nick is the author of the Amazon Bestselling book The Law Firm Growth Formula and has run Samson Consulting, a law firm marketing consultancy, since 2003.
David has provided advice and assistance to hundreds of law firms and other legal organisations. He delivers specialist consultancy and training on a wide range of topics including business management and strategy, tendering, compliance and quality assurance. In 2016 David was appointed as a Commissioner advising Lord Bach on policy relating to Justice and Legal Aid.
SRA Transparency Rules Webinar
The SRA Transparency Rules (often wrongly referred to as the Price Transparency Rules) came into force in December 2018.
The SRA has reviewed the websites of over 600 firms to check compliance with its Transparency Rules. Although some firms are fully compliant, the SRA feel that most firms have room for improvement. The SRA has started formal regulatory action against a small number of firms that remain non-compliant despite earlier engagement. In the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the SRA say that they will be taking a proportionate approach to enforcement in this area, recognising that many firms may need to adapt to working remotely and, what for many, is a material downturn in business.
However, it is important that firms do everything they can to provide the information that will help the public to find and understand the legal services they need, in line with the Rules. Therefore, on 28 May 2020 we held a webinar to assist firms in understanding the SRA’s expectations of their website.
Key Content
- Context to the reforms
- Common pitfalls and tips to help compliance
- Approach to enforcement
- GDPR – Privacy Notices
Please see a recording of the webinar below
Resources
We are pleased to share the SRA Transparency Rules webinar Slides with you.
Presenters
Natalie Darby, SRA
Natalie Darby is a Policy Manager at the SRA. She is responsible for a number of policy areas including the Transparency Rules and the five-year evaluation of the SRA’s regulatory reform programme. Prior to joining the SRA last year, Natalie was Head of Policy at the Bar Council, leading on regulatory issues and law reform.
David has provided advice and assistance to hundreds of law firms and other legal organisations. He delivers specialist consultancy and training on a wide range of topics including business management and strategy, tendering, compliance and quality assurance. In 2016 David was appointed as a Commissioner advising Lord Bach on policy relating to Justice and Legal Aid.
Remote Lexcel Assessment Webinar
In the light of the Covid-19 pandemic and Government guidelines, the Law Society have authorised the provision of remote Lexcel assessments, currently until the end of July 2020. On 12 May 2020 we held a webinar to assist firms in preparing for a remote Lexcel Assessment, adhering to updated guidance from the Law Society. This webinar reviews this practice with input from senior Managers at the Law Society and an Assessment Body, together with an experienced Lexcel Assessor and Consultant.
Key Content
- Current environment and Law Society guidance
- The process to be followed
- Potential advantages to Legal Practices of remote assessment
- Preparing for a remote assessment
- Technology that can be utilised
- Confidentiality
- Feedback from the Assessment Body on the process since March 2020
Target Audience
This Webinar is designed for any Legal Practice or In House Department who are scheduled to have a Lexcel Assessment in 2020, assisting them to prepare for and gain maximum advantage from a remote Lexcel assessment.
Please see a recording of the webinar below
Resources
We are pleased to share the Lexcel Remote Assessment webinar Slides and FAQs, Tips and Guidance with you.
Presenters
Eleanor O’Reilly-Joe, Head of Accreditations at the Law Society
Eleanor is Head of Accreditations at the Law Society and manages and develops accreditation products and services. She helps deliver accreditations that meet the needs of Law Society members and represents excellence in the profession.
Kairen Seaton, Head of Operations and Legal Sector at Centre for Assessment
Kairen is Head of Operations and Legal Sector at Centre for Assessment Ltd. She is responsible for the delivery of over 3000 audits and assessment each year in the legal sector and other sectors. She has 12 years’ experience working with Lexcel and other industry standards.
Stuart Lee, DG Legal, Lexcel Assessor and Consultant
Stuart has provided advice and assistance to hundreds of law firms and other legal organisations. He has been a Lexcel Assessor for 9 years, conducting assessments for a range of Law Firms and inhouse practices with 3 to 300 fee earners. In a 20 year career working with the Legal Sector Stuart has worked as an auditor, contract manager, management consultant, policy maker and trainer.
Business Continuity During the Coronavirus Webinar
In March and April, we held webinars on Business Continuity During the Coronavirus. The webinar provides an overview of the guidance and how it affects law firms and things to consider.
Key Content
- Whether to close the office
- Home working
- Supporting existing clients
- Staff Furloughs
- Suggested FREE software
- Financial support
- Business Continuity Plans
Please see a recording of the webinar below
Resources
We are pleased to share the Business Continuity During the Coronavirus webinar Slides with you.
To view the FAQs following the webinar, please visit the Covid-19 section of our website.
Presenters
David has provided advice and assistance to hundreds of law firms and other legal organisations. He delivers specialist consultancy and training on a wide range of topics including business management and strategy, tendering, compliance and quality assurance. In 2016, David was appointed as a Commissioner advising Lord Bach on policy relating to Justice and Legal Aid.
Matt is a non-practising solicitor and was formerly Senior Legal Adviser and Head of Continuous Improvement at the Legal Services Commission. He has considerable experience in regulatory issues and advising on complex issues of compliance and ethics. He is also an expert in data protection, GDPR and on the civil legal aid scheme.
Ongoing Course
Combined In-house Training Course
Throughout 2020, we are delivering a combined in-house training course to firms across England and Wales.
This course is being delivered following demand for training courses in the areas outlined below. To reduce cost and disruption, we have combined the training into a 3 ½ hour package. The training will take place at the firm or remotely by Zoom.
What is included?
- Data Protection
- Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Terrorist Financing Policy; and
- Identifying and recording Conflicts of Interest
Cost
The cost of the course starts from £750 plus VAT for up to 30 delegates.
To book a place or to receive further information, please send us an email.
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Contact Us
If you would like further details about any of the courses which we offer or to discuss any bespoke training requirements, please either call 01509 214 999, send us an email or complete the free enquiry form below.