Practice Management StandardsSee also our Quality Policy Statement Our clients expect us to deliver high quality advocacy and advice as a matter of course. We seek ensure that we deliver our service in a thoroughly professional, efficient manner. We have adopted the following Practice Managment Standards to ensure that we do. Quality Assurance Standard We are committed to the high standards we set ourselves in this document. We will monitor our performance to ensure that we maintain these standards. We will regularly consult our clients and undertake internal reviews to ensure that the needs, concerns and interests of clients are kept constantly in view, and where necessary, addressed. We comply with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for the Bar of England and Wales. Organisation and Management We recognise the importance of proper strategic planning and marketing. We have adopted machinery to devise, implement and review strategic planning. Client Care We provide a prompt response to communications from our clients. We inform our clients as to the basis upon which fees will be charged at the outset of any retainer on a case. We inform our clients in what timescale Counsel expects to complete work upon instructions received. If it seems that there are factors that might lead to delay, we will inform our clients promptly about the delay and the reasons for it, and provide a revised timescale for the work to be done. We keep adequate records in each case to support the fees charged, unless the fees are for standard items of work. We check instructions promptly in order to identify potential or existing conflicts of interests early and bring them to the attention of our lay and professional clients. We notify our clients as soon as possible if the counsel of choice is or may be unavailable for any particular engagement. We will seek, with the client?s permission, to provide suitable alternative counsel. We have a complaints procedure and agreed authority to resolve disputes, with a single point of contact and central recording. The progress of every formal complaint is monitored. We provide for independent assessment and conciliation of complaints. We review our client care arrangements regularly to ensure that the needs, concerns and interests of clients are kept constantly in view, and where necessary, addressed Management of Briefs, instructions and clerking services Recruitment Personnel management
Financial management We pay our financial obligations in a timely manner. We have proper arrangements for the issue of fee notes, the effective pursuing of fees, credit control and petty cash. We take appropriate measures to ensure that our financial and marketing data are protected against corruption or destruction and are kept lawfully,. We use the data at our disposal to assist us in devising our procedures and to develop the scope and profitability of our practice. Premises and facilities
We comply with our statutory obligations relating to the Health and Safety of our clients, our employees and members of chambers. Non-discrimination Candidates for pupillage and tenancy are recruited and appointed fairly, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, political affiliation, religion or (subject to the physical requirements of practice) disability and in accordance with the Chambers protocol on recruitment. Recruitment of and selection procedures for staff are conducted in the same way. We are committed to and put into effect equality of opportunity in Chambers. In particular, we:
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