Inspector’s praise as law firm excels

OLDHAM law firm Pearson Hinchliffe LLP has confirmed its position as one of the North-West’s leading firms after retaining Lexcel, the Law Society’s practice management standard, for the ninth successive year.

After a painstaking inspection, the prestigious quality mark was awarded to the practice, which has offices in Queen Street, Oldham, and Hollinwood, for meeting the highest management and customer-care standards.

The award places Pearson Hinchliffe, established in Oldham nearly 140 years ago, among only a handful of practices in the country to have reached the nine-year mark.

Lexcel is run by the Law Society, the professional body for solicitors in England and Wales.

Anne Milne, the industry’s independent assessor who evaluated the firm, said: “This practice has high standards of client care and takes great pride in the long-term relationships it has with clients.”

In her summary report she praised the 65-strong practice for “going the extra mile for clients”.

She added: “The amount of new business gained by recommendations from clients is a good indicator of the firm’s quality of service.

“Standards of client care are high and the firm has good levels of client satisfaction and low levels of complaints.”

Family law partner Daniel Prince, who manages Client Care at Pearson Hinchliffe, added: “This is a fantastic achievement for the firm and one we are rightly proud of. Looking after our clients’ needs with skill and compassion is at the heart of what we do and to be recognised consistently year-on-year is a testament to this. Achieving the nine-year mark is enormously gratifying.

“Lexcel is an extremely useful tool in communicating our client-focused philosophy — clients can be assured they will not only receive sound legal advice but in a way that allows them to get the outcome they want quicker and at a lower cost.”

Employment law partner Michael Pitt, who oversees business development, said: “I am delighted that the hard work and high standards of our talented team continue to receive the external recognition they thoroughly deserved.

“Lexcel is a mark of our ability to compete in an increasingly diverse and complicated legal market.

“The legal sector is presently undergoing a radical transformation in the face of the twin challenges of the Legal Services Act, which will allow retailers such as supermarkets to provide legal services, hence the well-worn term ‘Tesco Law’, and proposed cuts to legal aid.”

Lexcel-accredited firms are inspected annually.