Member Article

Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors Credits Technology For Success In Lockdown

Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors has credited the use of technology for its resilience during the UK’s lockdown, having recently passed its annual Lexcel practice management audit with exceptional results, highlighting 20 areas of ‘good practice’.

The report marks legal providers against required rules and guidelines to promote a quality approach to practice management and client care, praising the North West solicitors firm for its strong security protocol in line with Cyber Essentials, while investment into innovative IT solutions was documented as a notable strength.

Since strict measures around social distancing were introduced in March, the firm has continued to work remotely across all areas of law, including conveyancing having secured ongoing instructions with a 70% increase in June compared to the same period last year.

Managing Partner Mike Leeman thanks a digital approach and implementation of state-of-the-art software for the firm’s continued success throughout the pandemic.

Mike said: “We are delighted with the results of our practice management audit which not only highlights our use of technology but also our attitude towards client care and our ability to communicate across teams while remote working, which is something that we have instilled as part of company culture for years now. As a firm, we recognised early on that we needed to adopt a more progressive approach in line with changing client behaviours and expectations. As the world around us became more digital we had to follow suit and that head start has enabled us to successfully navigate the challenges that we’ve faced as a result of Covid-19.

“Our team are equipped with the right training and the tools to carry on with their jobs from home and continue to support our clients when they need our help the most. Having resources already in place has meant that we’ve been able to use this time effectively to trial new software and explore opportunities to improve our offering with more advanced ways of working and communicating across the board.”

The firm, which has office locations in Liverpool, Runcorn and Warrington, has continued to deliver legal services across all departments, including criminal, family, road traffic and wills and probate despite limitations on face-to-face appointments due to Covid-19.

Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors is looking ahead to its 200th business anniversary in 2021 as the team plans for further growth throughout the rest of the year.

Mike added: “Despite being one of the oldest firms in the region nearing 200 years in business, we believe in taking a modern and forward-thinking approach to benefit our employees as well as our clients. Our methods of digital communication between team members made things much easier for us when we were faced with the reality of working from home. Not only has this enabled the team to proactively engage with each other but it means that we can still hold department-wide meetings and offer important training in these unusual circumstances.

“We believe that this new way of working will change attitudes across the legal sector and we are confident that more firms will implement the use of technology going forward. This is something that we have encouraged and supported for years now and ultimately we would like to see the legal industry become completely paperless in the near future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Danielle Baldwin .