Our Awards

main imageLegal Services Commission Quality Mark

The Quality Mark is the name given to a set of Quality Assurance Standards for Legal Service Providers. The standards are designed to ensure that a service is well run and has its own quality control mechanisms that assure the quality of information of advice provided.

The Quality Mark enables members of the public who are in need of legal advice and other help to receive a quality assured service.

To carry out Legal Aid work organisations must obtain the Quality Mark Standard appropriate for the level of service they provide.

The Quality Mark demonstrates a commitment to providing a Quality Service.

A Specialist Quality Mark is a Quality Assurance Standard for Legal Aid provides that:

  • Supply complex legal help in specific areas of Law.
  • Provide a 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.

Hereward & Foster Solicitors has 11 Specialist Quality Marks in each of the 11 areas of Law it undertakes. We are one of a very few Firms in the country that have so many Specialist Quality Marks awarded to it.

main imageLexcel

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. 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.

Accredited Practices get fewer complaints and claims against them than other Practices. If you want peace of mind and assurance that you will receive a quality service you should use a Solicitor with a Lexcel Practice Management standard. By choosing such Solicitors with Lexcel Accreditation you can be sure you will get:

  • A timely response to all client communications.
  • Regular and accurate cost estimates.
  • Information on how charges will be calculated.

Hereward & Foster was first Lexcel Accredited in 2003 and has successfully been Re-accredited each year since.

Lexcel is therefore a strong indication of very good Practice Management standards including Client Care and the way in which cases are conducted.

main imageInvestors in People

Launched in 1991 Investors in People offers a business improvement designed to help all kinds of organisations develop performance through their people. It improves the way in which organisations manage and develop their people, leading to business improvement and better public services.

Investors in People is in indication of the level of training and development an organisation invests in its employees so that business can provide improved and better services to its clients.

Hereward & Foster has been awarded Investors in People since 2002 and has successfully been re-awarded after assessment Investors in People each year ever since.

main imageAPIL Accredited Firm

Association of Personal Injury Law Accreditation provides a kite mark of competence and specialist expertise of Solicitors dealing with Personal Injury claims. It helps consumers to recognise expertise and specialisms within the profession. APIL Accreditation demonstrates that the Firm and the Lawyers have achieved specific standards.

Hereward & Foster has been an Accredited Association of Personal Injury Lawyers Firm since 2006 and has been Re-accredited each year since.

quality solicitors logoQuality Solicitors

We have been selected as a Quality Solicitor for Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence under the Quality Solicitors Scheme. We are hand picked Specialist Lawyers dedicated to the best customer service and providing clients with the highest levels of client care and working to secure the maximum compensation.

Whilst many Solicitors Firms will carry out other work in addition to Personal Injury there are also many Firms such as ours who specialise in this field.

Solicitors Regulation Authority/Law Society Accreditation

Accreditation Scheme Membership means that a member of the Firm has demonstrated special competence in a particular area of Law. All Accreditation Scheme Members have demonstrated their special competence in a particular area of Law to the satisfaction of the Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority. All Accreditation Scheme Members have successfully completed a range of stringent tests, examinations, interviews and role-play assessments; their fitness and suitability to be Scheme Members has been investigated and confirmed.

main imageChildren Panel Accreditation Scheme

The Children Panel Accreditation means that the Solicitor is experienced in representing children and other parties under the Children Act 1989. They can provide advice and assistance:

  • For children, in all family matters.
  • For adults, when their children are ‘at risk’, or have been taken into care.
  • For Local Authorities, in Care Proceedings under the Children Act 1989.

They can also help you with proceedings such as:

  • Family breakdowns.
  • Residence.
  • Contact.
  • Emergency protection.
  • Adoption.
  • Parental Responsibility.
  • Human rights.

Sarah Lerner, Elizabeth Skinner and Harkirt Athwal are all Child Panel Accredited Solicitors.

main imageCriminal Litigation Accreditation

Criminal Litigation Accreditation is for Solicitors who are included on the Criminal Defence Duty Solicitor Schemes. Duty Solicitors are called to Police Stations to advise and assist people who would otherwise have no legal representation. They also provide Advocacy Services at Magistrates Courts, assisting people who do not have their own Legal Representatives.

Deborah Adler is a Duty Solicitor appointed under the Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme.

main imageFamily Law Accreditation

Family Law deals with contacts, gruelling issues. Family Law Accreditation Scheme Solicitors can advise on and assist with:

  • Divorce.
  • Separation.
  • Division of family assets.
  • Cohabitation.
  • Maintenance.
  • Family disputes.

Solicitors who deal in Family Law and Accredited must have in-depth legal knowledge and be capable of dealing with client’s in a skilful and considerate way.

Elizabeth Skinner, is a Family Law Accredited Solicitor.

main imageImmigration and Asylum Accreditation

Immigration and Asylum Accredited Solicitors are very experienced Solicitors at providing legal advice to Immigrants and Asylum Seekers.

Deborah Adler is an Immigration and Asylum Accredited Solicitor.

main imageMental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme

Mental Health Review Tribunals are Independent Judicial Bodies that operate under the Provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983. The main function of the Tribunal is to review the cases of compulsorily detained patients and decide whether or not such patients can be discharged. Lawyers who belong to the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme can advise and represent at Tribunal Hearings patients who have been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. Many members of the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme are also able to provide legal advice and assistance in other related areas of the Law affecting mental illness and incapacitated persons – in Wills and Probate, Court of Protection cases and Powers of Attorney.

Sarah Lerner is a Mental Health Review Tribunal Accredited Solicitor.

main imagePersonal Injury Accreditation Scheme

If you have been injured in an action and it wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and loss of earnings. Personal Injury Accredited Solicitors can provide advice on and assistance with claims arising from Personal Injury. Personal Injury Accredited Solicitors can also provide advice to relatives of people who have been fatally injured. Personal Injury Accredited Solicitors offer clients a free half hour consultation to find out:

  • Whether you have a case.
  • How to go about claiming.
  • How much you might be able to claim.
  • How the claim could be paid for.

Chris Wilson is a Personal Injury Accredited Solicitor.

High Courts Rights of Audience

All Solicitors have full rights of audience in the following:

  • Tribunals.
  • Coroners Courts.
  • Magistrates Courts.
  • County Courts.
  • European Courts.

Solicitor may also obtain right of audience in the:

  • Higher Courts.
  • Crown Courts.
  • High Court.
  • Court of Appeal.
  • House of Lords.

Sarah Lerner and Elizabeth Skinner have been appointed as Solicitors with Higher Court Rights of Audience for Civil Advocacy.

Association of Personal Injury Law Individual Accreditation

main imageAssociation of Personal Injury Fellowship

A Fellow of Association of Personal Injury is an experienced Practitioner able to demonstrate a high level of expertise and recognised by his/her peers has been in a position of professional and intellectual leadership in the field of Personal Injury Law.

A Fellow will have experience of a range of cases involving different types of settlement and, will have expertise in at least:

  • Negotiation of settlements.
  • Mediation of settlements.
  • Full Trials (on Liability and Quantum).
  • Trials on a preliminary issue (Liability, Limitation).

A Fellow will have experience of the range of Personal Injury types of cases, but may have reached a stage in his/her career in which s/he has specialised in a single field, such as Clinical Negligence, Road Traffic Act cases, etc.

It is unlikely the experience and expertise expected of a Fellow would have been gained in less than 10 years Personal Injury practice.

A Fellow is a Leader and Manager of Personal Injury Litigation within the relevant organisation and will have developed personal skills in representation, advising and leadership.

Chris Wilson has been granted APIL Fellowship.