Online directories. I’ve had enough.
Posted by Jayne Smith on June 30, 2009 · 1 Comment so far
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Online directories. Over the years I’ve paid for a few. I should have learnt my lesson by now. I’ve just received another telephone call from yet another legal directory asking me to “upgrade my listing” to a banner advert. I didn’t even know I had a listing with them. Apparently it’s been there for a while. I did point out that I’d not received a single solitary lead from it, but thanks anyway.
Given the fact that I’ve not received a single solitary lead from a free listing, why would I want to pay a “special price” of just £200 to have a flashing banner on a webpage?
The salesperson couldn’t event tell me how many hits “transcription services” receives each month, let alone what hits their current customers receive. Then I was told that there are no guarantees with any marketing. So no thanks. I’ll refuse your offer of a “special price”.
Now, if I was asked to buy something that would give me something tangible and I could have guaranteed results, I might be interested.
I offer a “try before you buy” freebie so clients can see for themselves how outsourced typing services can impact on their business. Do you think online directories will use the same tactic?
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Solicitors business plan can affect PI premium
Posted by Jayne Smith on June 18, 2009 · Go on - leave a comment Email this to a friend or colleague
I have been helping Tracy Thompson and Steve Battarbee, Directors of NSA, with their roadshow in various locations around the country. It’s a great way to meet solicitors, hear their concerns and receive some education at the same time.
The past few seminars have teamed up with Robin Bayley, Director of Prime Professions and Underwriter, Lewis Edwards of Allianz. Their presentations have been enlightening. Lewis tells us why Allianz is entering the market for Solicitors Professional Indemnity and how they hope to make it profitable. Robin is giving guidance on how to differentiate your law firm from more than 10,000 other practices who will be hoping for good rates of premium in a hardening market. From what I’ve heard so far, it is doom and gloom.
Having said that, if you’re not a “head in the sand” law firm and choose to be innovative and proactive in providing best quality services and have excellent risk management, then you can stand out from the crowd and put yourself in a better bargaining position than others when it comes to negotiating your renewal terms.
One question made my ears prick up at yesterday’s presentation. Do you have a business plan? Are you managing your overheads and what are your strategies for future growth and risk management.
Managing overheads is where I fit in with anybody’s business plan. On a very simple and straight forward cost analysis, send just one day’s dictation from one lawyer and it will cost about £39 to have typed by us. It would cost a whole lot more for a good quality secretary/temp to type up the same amount of typing in a working day.
Making use of confidential and secure systems, 24 hour availability and totally flexible hours and places of work then businesses can become more creative and innovative in the delivery of their services. Would this help your business stand out from the crowd?
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Braille transcription, do you need it?
Posted by Jayne Smith on June 3, 2009 · Go on - leave a comment Email this to a friend or colleague
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) of 1995, legally obliges companies to provide auxiliary aids or services to make it easier for people with a disability to make use of any services that it offers to the public.Through the work of charity, Vision Support, VST has had contact with a number of individuals who have been unclear as to their rights and been unsure as to the process of obtaining alternative formats.
VST’s services assist companies in making alternative formats more available to the Visually Impaired. This is not just a legal requirement but is of a real help to the end user who may have to go to unreasonable or uncomfortable lengths to be able to access the information that is sent to them. It provides a barrier to accepting and using new services. If a Visually Impaired person feels wrongly excluded from provision of goods or services they have recourse to the courts and can claim damages, not only for financial loss, but also for injury to feelings, and there is no limit to damages that can be awarded for the latter.
David Scott, Managing Director of VST says:
In our work with companies two of the more common questions are:
”What are the limits on the materials that we have to produce?” and
“What is a reasonable adjustment?”
The answer to the first is that service providers are required, by the DDA, to be proactive rather than reactive. There is a duty to consider all the ways in which you provide information and make sure that is accessible to everyone. In short any materials that you produce and send out to customers existing or potential must include those with a Visual Impairment. Special offers, adverts, or general update materials must be available and sent out in the format of the customer’s choice. The Act does not limit the communication spectrum.
In terms of reasonable adjustment there are no hard and fast rules, no single solution. However, the production and availability of materials in the format selected by the customer and available across all communications is a good start.
As a general rule the more important the information the more vital that it is available quickly in alternative formats. For example:
- A change to an existing service which some or all customers will need to be aware of in order to take action.
- Essential information such a labeling, safety notices, evacuation procedures.
- Information from which important decisions will be made.
Contracts.- Confidential of personal information.
If the information concerns a product, offer or service that is only available for a limited period, and customers must respond quickly to take advantage of it, you will need to ensure that Visually Impaired customers are not disadvantaged by delays in the production of alternative formats.
However, since the DDA became law additional legislation and regulatory guidelines have come into effect.
In December 2007 the Disability Equality Duty became law. The main aim of the Disability Equality Duty is to get public authorities to think and act proactively on disability equality issues from the start. This will help them to identify from the beginning, where and how, unnecessary barriers are created to the equal participation of disabled users of their services as well as current and potential employees. This is not just about physical/sensory barriers but also barriers which are created by the way services, policies or practices are designed. Understanding these barriers will help ensure the public sector plays its full roll in enabling disabled people to participate in all aspects of society as equal citizens.
This duty is therefore aimed at ensuring, for the first time ever, that public authorities take responsibility for tackling institutional disability-related discrimination. This is a really exciting step-change compared to the individual rights focus of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). It is not about more individual rights; instead it is about improving public authorities’ policies and services as a whole for all disabled people.
The general duty applies to all public authorities (with a handful of specialised exceptions). This includes government departments, local authorities and schools. Voluntary and private sector organisations are also subject to the general duty where they are delivering services commissioned by public authorities.
This includes access to alternative formats.
The Financial Services Authority published guidelines under the heading “treating customers fairly.” Outcome 3 of this guidance was to ensure that “Consumers are provided with clear information and are kept appropriately informed before, during and after the point of sale.” The FSA argue the clear information is crucial to ensuring that consumers are treated fairly. In particular where consumers do not take advice and must rely on the clarity of information when making decisions. It states that “a firm must pay due regard to the information needs of its clients, and communicate information to them in a way which is clear, fair and not misleading.
This incorporates the provision of accessible formats.
When considering your current and future policies, procedures and practices, seeking merely to comply with the letter of the law is a high risk approach as the DDA is difficult to interpret. For example, working practices may be challenged in the courts and, until a body of case law is established, it would be imprudent to quibble over whether a customer is covered by the Act. Best practice is not only the most prudent option but it serves all of your customers to the best possible standard and does not discriminate between them. To work within the spirit of the Act is not only the best option for an individual company but for the end user who will remain loyal to you and recommend you to family and friends. The argument for adopting a best policy approach is not limited to the obeying the law but has its roots in commercial benefits and social responsibility.
Contact VST if you would like to know more about transcribing your documents into Braille or alternative formats.
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Women into leadership (science, engineering and technology)
Posted by Jayne Smith on May 31, 2009 · Go on - leave a comment Email this to a friend or colleague
The UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (UKRC) provides a central point of support, information and advice for employers, industry, academia, professional institutes and research councils, and also for women entering, returning to or progressing in SET careers.
A free Women and Leadership event is being held on Friday 26th June 2009, 9.30am until 1pm, lunch provided.
This interactive event is for all large and small employers and learning providers in Science, Engineering, Technology and the Built Environment. It will be a great opportunity to network with others in the region.
Hear the business case and success stories of women in management get practical ideas for implementing in your organisation.
Booking Details are available here.
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Would you rather recruit legal secretaries or fee earners?
Posted by Jayne Smith on May 21, 2009 · Go on - leave a comment Email this to a friend or colleague
We all know the pitfalls of recruitment, training and retaining. It can be a costly and time consuming exercise (especially if you recruit the wrong person) so given the choice would you rather spend your time recruiting fee earners or support staff? I guess the answer is a no-brainer. If you’re going to expend on salary, office space, equipment and insurances, you’ll be far more concerned to have a good return on your investment and will want to choose high quality fee earners.
Document Direct can replace the typist’s role in your firm. We speak your language, understand your processes and systems and our services can complement your existing support staff so you can deliver outstanding service to your clients.
If you are looking to recruit a legal secretary, stop right here, as we’re the alternative.
If you’re looking to recruit a fee earner the same criteria applies. I suppose you would want to speak to someone who understands your needs, speaks your language and wants to help you deliver the best service to your clients.
David Artingstall of Future Legal Recruitment is a former Senior Partner of a national law firm who now has a legal recruitment business.
- His business partner is Caroline Medcalfe who has worked in legal recruitment for a major firm for several years
- Between them they know Legal Recruitment well … from both sides of the fence
- Their service is personal and hard working and not targets driven
In turbulent times, there’s lots of changes happening and having a chat with someone who deals with firms on a very personal basis means individual’s ambitions and goals can be matched to recruiter’s needs and vice versa.
Trust Future Legal with Your Legal Future
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Are you living your dream?
Posted by Jayne Smith on May 19, 2009 · Go on - leave a comment Email this to a friend or colleague
Marmite. Either love it or hate it. The same can be said for IT (that’s “information technology” before you get the wrong idea).
Just a few years ago I never thought I would have my dream job where I could work when I wanted (and needed) to, from wherever I was. Our technology really does help with a work/life balance. In this Computer Weekly article I share my “living the dream” experience.
Would flexible working times and places suit you? Would you like to be able to work remotely from your office, perhaps whilst mobile, and have a secretarial support service available 24 hours a day so you’re free to take the day off knowing you can ”catch up” in the evenings?
I’m interested to learn you views. Please leave a comment below.
Jayne
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- Document Direct
- Free telephone calls for the legal sector
- Merit - An information/communication/technology user group
- No Option for a Law Firm - High-tec law firm IT jargon at it’s best
- Online Training Courses
