Compliance, it is a crucial part of running a law firm and covers many different areas. There is so much that law firms have to implement and keep up to date, therefore it is a challenge ensuring they are fully compliant and remain compliant. Not being proactive about compliance is an issue that can have far reaching effects. Legal Eye Ltd is turning that around.

Legal Eye Ltd, launched 3 years ago, is the innovative brainchild of Jaunita Gobby, Director, who has played a leading role in developing best practice and risk management.

Legal Eye works with law firms, ensuring compliance and optimising performance, utilising their extensive knowledge of the law and regulations to ensure law firms are compliant. Files are audited in order to ensure firms are complying with the Code of Conduct and other regulations including the Equality Act 2010, the EU Commerce Directive and the Bribery Act

Jaunita commented:
“I saw a gap in the market for a consultancy covering England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and specialising in all areas of legal consultancy and providing the precedents and training as a package that is therefore the complete solution for law firms.”

With extensive experience in the Legal Services Industry, Jaunita has previously headed up a remortgage transactional services department in a UK Property Legal Services Company with responsibility for best practice, service reviews and the auditing of over 350 law firms.

Working with Jaunita is Priya Anand Patel, Senior Associate, who joined the team in January this year. Priya’s insight into legal practice provides an excellent footing in optimising best practice and performance, assisting a wide range of firms.

Recent additions to the team are:

• Julie Goygh – an associate member of the Institute of Legal Executives and a trained Lexcel Assessor, Julie now specialises in Lexcel Accreditation, compliance and file reviews, utilising her wealth of experience and knowledge as an Assessor to the benefit of Legal Eye’s Clients.
• Virginia Bevan – dedicated to working within accounts in the legal sector, Virginia is an associate member of the Institute of Legal Finance and Management and works with law firms on compliance with Accounts Rules. A key part of Virginia’s role is assisting with the implementation of new controls and systems, particularly relating to COFA procedures and interest policy requirements.
• Rachel MacLeod – as well as founding Pencil Case, a flexible secretarial service for law firms, in 2010, Rachel provides secretarial and administrative support to Legal Eye.

Law firms need to show a proactive approach towards risk management and Legal Eye, as part of its exceptional customer service and unbeatable work quality, can offer clear and practical advice to assist law firms with things such as Best Practice, Risk Management, Compliance of the Code of Conduct, Lexcel Accreditation, CQS Applications, Client Relationship Management and Business Development.

Senior Partner at O’Neill Patient Solicitors, Les Patient, says:
“Legal Eye was tasked to deal with providing us with a tool to update our staff in respect of Money Laundering and ID training. The presentation that Legal Eye prepared was easily understood by all our staff and kept their attention. We were very pleased with its value and with the care and attention that Jaunita gave to it.”

While Richard Carter, Partner at Martin Tolhurst Solicitors had this to say:
“Jaunita is the best external consultant we have used. She has helped us obtain our Lexcel accreditation and ensured we are fully briefed and updated on all of the changes to SRA regulations. Her file reviews are thorough, practical and constructive. Jaunita has given us practical advice and suggestions that can actually be implemented. She is always prompt in dealing with any query and professional in of all her work.”

Jaunita adds:
“Legal Eye is growing and we are expanding the team with consultants who will form strong relationships with firms and become part of their teams.”