Guide to Good Practice

Publisher: Law Society Publishing

Author: The Law Society

Price: £39.95

Edition: 1st Edition (June 2009)

ISBN: 978-1-85328-734-3

Buy from Law Society Publishing: Click Here

Being a solicitor is often more difficult than people expect.  Being subject to a substantial amount of regulation means lawyers must ensure they meet high standards at all times.  From time to time, a call goes around the office for an answer to a seemingly straightforward question: the the response is often to "call Redditch".  Before doing so, solicitors should seriously considering investing in the Guide to Good Practice which answers many frequently asked questions and provides invaluable guidance on good practice.

The Guide to Good Practice is split into ten practice areas and key topics: civil litigation, conveyancing and property; costs and fees; crime; family; money laundering; oaths and affidavits; practice management; tax and VAT; and wills and probate.  By splitting the material in this way, the text ensures that a practitioner specialising in one of these areas need only consider his or her relevant section to find the answers to the most frequently asked questions.  The format is key to the text's success; adopting a question and answer approached followed, where relevant, by extracts from relevant practice notes.

It is refreshing that the Law Society has written such a book.  Until now, practitioners faced with questions on good practice have often either struggled in silence, called Redditch or speculated on what the answer may be.  Such an approach should no longer continue: the Guide to Good Practice is accessible, covers the main issues faced by practitioners and, most importantly, is excellent value for money.  It also, very usefully, points the readers towards relevant websites.  The written style, being in plain English, should also be welcomed as it allows even the most junior members of staff to understand steps that should be taken to maintain or establish good practice.

The Law Society suggests that following the guidance in Guide to Good Practice should help a firm comply with regulators.  This is plainly a good enough reason on its own, particularly when you consider the time and effort involved in dealing with complaints involving the regulator which could otherwise be avoided.  The content is, in addition, excellent and provides an indispensible guide to good practice.  It should therefore occupy a prominent place on any compliance manager's desk and be a key text in any self-respecting legal library.  Without it, there could be trouble ahead for practitioners who may be caught out by subtle changes in the regulatory landscape.

Reviewed on 14 June 2010

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