The Specialist Quality Mark (SQM)

Here at Recognising Excellence we can offer advice and guidance against the Specialist Quality Mark (SQM)

Originally specifically for those legal practices that offered legal aid, it has recently been revised to be applicable to any legal organisation who supply complex legal help or a full range of legal services.

The Specialist Quality Mark is a quality assurance standard for legal firms that:

• provide full range of legal services, including representation in court (where necessary and permitted) by formally trained professionals
• wish to receive Legal Services Commission funding 
• are well run and provide good client care
• example: solicitors, agencies supplying specialist advice in specialist areas of law

Compliance with the Specialist Quality Mark or Lexcel is a requirement for organisations that have, or are seeking to have, a Legal Services Commission Unified Contract
The SQM consists of a set of standards designed to ensure that a practice has its own quality control measures and can ensure its clients receive high quality information and advice.

The SQM consists of three essential elements:

• The specification of standards of quality assurance
• The independent audit of the standard to ensure that standards are being achieved and maintained
• Continuous improvement in the service offered by suppliers of legal services to their clients.

Following certification, membership of the Community Legal Service (CLS) is achieved.

Interested in finding out more about the SQM?Contact: John Edwards on: 0207 078 0840 or 07771 988427 or email john.edwards@recognisingexcellence.co.uk

Cardiff office: 02920 020908

Edinburgh office: 0131 202 1019

London office: 0207 078 0840