This Quality Policy and the controls defined in Chambers Quality Manual have been developed to ensure that Chambers fulfils the following objectives in its aim to provide the highest levels of service to its clients:
- To provide a friendly and professional service across a broad area of legal expertise;
- To recruit only highly qualified and able barristers who are committed and enthusiastic;
- To uphold the traditional values of the Bar whilst responding to ever increasing commercial demands;
- To utilise information technology and data to its full potential to maximise efficiency and client care;
- To resolve client concerns as speedily as possible and to develop services in response to feedback received;
- To recruit capable, helpful and courteous staff and invest in their development and training;
- To ensure that our premises and facilities are accessible and comfortable;
- To provide a working environment that is safe and secure for all personnel and visitors;
- To provide an effective training programme for pupils;
- To comply with and promote the Bar Council's Code for Equality and Non-Discrimination;
- To provide strategic direction and to develop Chambers to its full potential;
- To ensure that responsibility, authority and the decision making structure within Chambers is clear.
We are committed to a policy of assuring the quality of our service to all clients. In the accomplishment of this aim, our objective is to provide an efficient and professional service, carried out to controlled practices and to standards that are consistently maintained. This is ensured through the implementation and maintenance of clear policies and procedures that are adhered to by all members and staff. We have set service standards in respect of those aspects impacting directly upon our clients and measure our compliance at regular intervals to ensure such standards are maintained or improved upon.
These Chambers work to and will continue to meet with the requirements of the Bar Council's Practice Management Standards and thereby achieving the 'Barmark' award. Although everyone within Chambers contributes towards the implementation, improvement and success of our Quality Management System, our Head of Chambers has responsibility for ensuring that standards are adhered to by the members and our Senior Clerk has equivalent responsibility for our staff.
We believe sustained quality and excellence is achieved only by continuous improvement and shall strive to improve the service to our clients by means of structured reviews of our Quality Management System. Our Chambers meetings provide a regular forum for the monitoring of standards and achievements, reviewing feedback and problems encountered and reviewing the effectiveness of corrective action taken. The regular review of our quality management system at the strategic level and canvassing of client views ensures that our service and policies are always focused on client needs.
We attach great importance to the contribution which all barristers and employees make to the quality of service provided and to the continuous improvement philosophy. Our committee and meeting structure encourages a policy of open communication and involvement to generate an innovative environment and to capitalise on useful ideas. Resource and training requirements are regularly reviewed for staff, members and Chambers as a whole to ensure that all barristers and employees are able to develop their skills and fulfil their role in the implementation of this policy and contribute to the overall success of Chambers.
This policy has been issued to all barristers, pupils and staff and is available to clients on request.