STEP – August 2021
Natalie Rogerson was granted the designation in August 2021 with distinction and helps to ensure that the department works to STEP standards.
STEP is the global professional association for practitioners who specialise in family inheritance and succession planning. We work to improve public understanding of the issues families face in this area and promote education and high professional standards among our members.
'TEP' stands for Trust and Estate Practitioner, and is the designation given to full members of STEP. To become a TEP, practitioners must have a combination of specialist qualifications and experience, including significant involvement at a specialist level with inheritance and succession planning.
TEPs are recognised experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience. By joining STEP and maintaining their membership they have also shown significant commitment to their continued professional development in this specialist area.
Learn more about the benefits of using a STEP accredited practice on the STEP website at: https://www.step.org/professional-standards
WIQS – September 2016
We are delighted to be an accredited member of the Law Society’s Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS). This shows that we follow best practice procedures to meet the highest standards of technical expertise and client service in providing tailored Wills and Probate advice to consumers.
- We will not pressure you into buying more complex advice that is not in your best interests.
- Our dedicated Wills and Probate service is tailored to your needs. We will explain the process, options, costs and likely timescales.
- We will keep you up-to-date using your preferred method of communication.
- Accredited Solicitors and other staff complete mandatory training on the WIQS standard and show compliance through annual re-accreditation and ongoing enforcement checks by the Law Society.
Learn more about the benefits of using a WIQS accredited practice on the Law Society’s website at: www.lawsociety.org.uk/AboutWIQS
Law Society Excellence Awards 2012 - Excellence in Conveyancing Practice
This award is open to Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) members only, which implies entrants as Conveyancing leaders, as firms undergo rigorous assessment by the Law Society, compulsory training, self-reporting, random audits and annual reviews in order to maintain CQS status.
Award entrants should show how they have used the CQS brand and values to develop their business, including how they have used it to enhance the reputation of the practice and to raise standards of client care and service, and how they have embedded the CQS processes and managed and necessary changes in their business model or department.
The judges noted that JBGass have successfully used CQS to focus on risk, and in doing so, impressed clients, lenders and the firm’s insurer stating ‘the results have been reduced indemnity insurance, increased client satisfaction, new mortgage lender panel positions and new lines of client business.’
Law Society Excellence Awards 2011 - Lexcel Award for Practice Management
The Law Society is the representative body for more than 130,000 Solicitors, qualified in England and Wales, practising both at home and across the globe. The Law Society Excellence Awards are a firmly established highlight in the legal calendar, and provide a welcome opportunity to celebrate all that is great about the profession and to demonstrate that Lawyers continue to innovate and to deliver work of the highest quality.
JBGass were shortlisted for the Lexcel Award for Practice Management. The Lexcel Award rewards excellence in practice management and service delivery from practices that have successfully implemented the Lexcel standard. Lexcel is the Law Society’s practice management standard, which is only awarded to Solicitors who meet the highest management and customer care standards, and is referred to as ‘The Quality Mark for Solicitors’. The judges looked for practices that have effectively incorporated the Lexcel framework into their business strategies to drive continuous improvement.
The judges noted that instead of just planning to obtain Lexcel accreditation, JBGass decided to use Lexcel as the catalyst to transform their firm. This journey has taken them from a historic sole practitioner firm to a modern limited company law firm. Both client and staff are feeling the benefits, reporting significant improvements across the firm.
CQS - August 2011
The Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) is the Law Society’s quality standard for Residential Conveyancing. Achievement of membership will establish a level of credibility for member firms with stakeholders (regulators, lenders, insurers and clients) based upon:
- The integrity of the Senior Responsible Officer and other staff.
- The firm’s adherence to good practice management standards.
- Adherence to prudent and efficient Conveyancing procedures through the scheme protocol.
JBGass underwent rigorous assessment by the Law Society, compulsory training, self reporting, random audits and annual reviews in order to maintain CQS status. It is open only to members of the Law Society who meet the demanding standards set by the scheme and has the support of the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the Building Societies Association, Legal Ombudsman and the Association of British Insurers.
Lexcel - April 2010
Lexcel is the Law Society’s practice management standard. The Lexcel practice management standard is only awarded to Solicitors who meet the highest management and customer care standards and is referred to as ‘The Quality Mark for Solicitors’. Lexcel accredited practices undergo rigorous independent assessment every year to ensure they meet required standards of excellence in areas such as client care, case management and risk management.
Lexcel firms make sure they:
- Understand what you expect
- Provide a consistent level of service
- Deliver what you expect
Lexcel firms are always looking for ways of improving their client service. They ask clients for their views and make changes accordingly.
Chartered Institute of Marketing Excellence Awards 2009 - Professional Services
The world’s largest organisation for professional marketers, the CIM develops and sets marketing industry standards, and this year marks its centenary. The Marketing Excellence Awards are industry sector based, eligible to individuals and teams, and open to all marketing projects.
JBGass were shortlisted in the Professional Services category which contained 5 international firms, 4 of which have been named in the Top 50 of the Business Superbrands survey 2010, with Ernst & Young taking the highest position at 21.
JBGass developed an approach to supporting house sales using Home Information Packs (HIPs). HIPs have been widely criticised by the property market, but JBGass has developed HIPs of a high standard at a low price, which has succeeded in retaining old clients, attracting new ones and developing profitable relationships with local Estate agents.
David Thorp, Director of Research and Professional Development at The Chartered Institute of Marketing said, “The Marketing Excellence Awards have been especially created to highlight the fundamental role marketing plays, throughout both business and the public sector, and to celebrate the best marketing achievements across many industry sectors. It recognises outstanding marketing from UK organisations, both large and small.
The entrants demonstrated the innovation and creativity needed to demonstrate good marketing practice and even innovation, during the current financial downturn. The diversity and creativity of the entries resulted in much deliberation by the judging teams to judge and mark the worthy short list.”
The professional Services category winner was Ernst & Young, who was also won the overall President’s Award.
Law Society Excellence Awards 2009 - Marketing & Business Development
JBGass were winners in the category of Marketing & Business Development. The judges were impressed by JBGass’ commitment to developing an approach to supporting house sales including a Home Information Pack of a high standard at a low price, which has succeeded in retaining old clients, attracting new ones and developing profitable relationships with local Estate agents.
The judges described the entry as “exhibiting the true art of executing a well-planned and well-researched strategy to build a service which succeeded in marking them apart from their competitors.”
Robert Heslett, Law Society President said, “The standard of entries received for the third annual excellence awards has been superb and reflects the high level of innovation that exists across the legal profession. The process of selecting the shortlist was extensive due to the vast number of entries this year.
These winners have made the promotion of best practice an integral part of their work. These awards are part of the Law Society’s commitment to promoting excellence in legal services.”
Law Society Excellence Awards 2008 - Excellence in Client Service
JBGass Solicitors were shortlisted for the LCS Award for Excellence in Client Service. The award highlights ‘excellence in client care and innovative approaches to maintaining and developing client-focused services’.
The judges shortlisted JBGass on the basis that they have demonstrated a leading edge commitment to client care and examples of real efforts in going the extra mile for a diverse range of clients.
The award shortlisting was the result of receiving excellent client feedback over the last 8 months. Conveyancing clients were sent a feedback questionnaire on completion, to gather feedback on several aspects of the service provided; value, report, correspondence, comparison to other firms, friendliness and overall rating. Using a scale of 1 for poor and 5 for excellent, JBGass scored ‘very good’ (4.23) or better in all areas, and have seen score increases across all categories.
The entry also highlighted a move of office to provide easy access and free parking for clients, as well as a heavy investment in E-Conveyancing to complement existing correspondence channels.