GA Solicitors Secures Lexcel Accreditation for 16th Consecutive Year
GA Solicitors, a regional law firm headquartered in Plymouth, has not only secured its Lexcel accreditation for the 16th consecutive year, but also achieved exceptional results, after a rigorous assessment from national organisation The Law Society.
Lexcel is The Law Society’s legal excellence standard. To achieve the accreditation, law firms must submit to a rigorous audit to examine their approach to client care, risk management, people management, structure and strategy, financial management, information management, and file and case management.
GA Solicitors’ audit took place this September and included an intense week of staff interviews, file reviews, audits and compliance checks. The lead assessor has years of experience in the sector and has reviewed hundreds of law firms across the country. His findings were incredibly positive, and he was able to identify an impressive 11 areas of good practice.
The auditor’s report highlighted key points on people management, reflecting on GA’s culture that resulted in a perception, throughout the firm, of a focused but kind environment in which common values are shared”. He also compared GA Solicitors’ operations to that of the McKinsey’s 7S model, which will “hold together the firm’s strategies, structure, systems, style, skills and staff” forming “a coherent whole with a common purpose”.
GA also received positive feedback on its cybersecurity systems, with the assessor praising their efficiency and the team’s consistent attention to detail in managing them. This meticulous approach is particularly reassuring in an era of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
Auditors must look for and report on any major and minor non-compliances. The assessor was not able to find any non-compliances throughout his investigations, and his findings showed that “management practices in terms of operations, information, finance, and people are excellent”.
David Wallis, managing partner of GA Solicitors, commented: “For a law firm, Lexcel is the gold standard. It shows our clients, insurers, staff and professional contacts that we work at the highest possible level – this is regarding all aspects of client care, legal advice, risk management and also as an employer.
“It is a tough and intense process, with all elements of our business checked over with a fine-tooth comb. We always like to think we are providing our clients with the best possible legal advice and service, but to have it tested by an organisation such as The Law Society, and for them to pass on the level of praise that they have, is very rewarding, and we have been truly delighted.
“This is our 16th year of being accredited, and year on year we have seen an improvement in feedback. This, however, was by far our best yet. Previously, we had seven areas of good practice, so to see this jump to eleven clearly shows that our efforts and commitment to our clients and our business have paid off.
“We are particularly proud to have been recognised for our strategic alignment and culture, as well as the value our people place on compliance. It is this culture of excellence that provides our clients, both current and prospective, with complete confidence that they are working with a reputable firm operating above the recognised standards of legal practice.”
GA Solicitors’ Lexcel success follows its firm-wide recognition from The Legal 500 and also its accreditation from the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme,.
With more than 200 years of heritage, GA Solicitors is a regional law firm, headquartered in Plymouth, with 98 members of staff. It offers guidance across eight specialist departments: business; family; employment; energy; dispute resolution; wills, trusts & probate; conveyancing and personal injury.
ENDS
21/10/25
Note to Editors
GA Solicitors can trace its roots back more than 200 years and has been advising the people and businesses in the South West for its duration. Originally based in Devonport, the firm gets its initials from Thomas Husband Gill, who joined the practice in 1875 and later went into partnership with Albert E. Akaster.
Now one of the region’s leading law firms, the 98-strong team at the Lexcel-accredited LLP, has offices in both Plymouth and Bath. It is ranked in The Legal 500, Chambers UK and Chambers High Net Worth and is structured around eight practice areas, each comprising its own specialist department:
All content on this website (inclusive of guides, blogs and imagery) is strictly copyrighted by Gill Akaster LLP, trading as GA Solicitors. It is not to be used by any third party without prior contact and permission. Any requests for content should be sent to katy.mckenna@GAsolicitors.com.