By Legal Futures’ Associate Teal Compliance
The Government and law firm COLPs have something in common – a high risk of non-compliance.
Usually the May Bank Holiday is when I think Summer is on its way. Nicer weather, longer days, BBQs, gardening, meeting friends and holiday shopping.
But now is not normal. We’ve been in lockdown for weeks, the kids (and you) probably don’t know what day it is, never mind that it’s a school holiday.
And instead of reruns of old programmes, we’re hooked on the real-life political drama playing out in Westminster. The Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister admitting at least two breaches of the lockdown guidance. He admits he did not comply and he felt he was right to do that. He had his reasons.
Sound familiar?
You see this is at risk of becoming a massive problem. Where one high profile person doesn’t comply more will follow. It’s a universal truth, and one which is very common in Law Firms.
The quickest way to trash a compliance programme (which is what the lockdown essentially is) is to let people see one person decide not to do it. However justified people will wonder things like “is it really necessary”, “maybe it’s not that risky after all”. Ask around, you will find people who are in two minds now. There will be people who will feel this is an indication that there is flexibility to bend the rules where they can make a rational case for it.
“I’ve not met the file review quota because I needed to get these files finished for billing”
“I’ve not got the ID yet because it’s a very urgent matter”
“I know the bill is more than the estimate but I was too busy with the case to update the client about the costs”
Sound familiar?
But it doesn’t have to be this way. At Teal we know why compliance doesn’t work and what you can do about it.
Join us on our Compliance that Works webinar at 1.00pm on Thursday 28th May. It is free to register and so we can make sure we help as many firms as possible places are for those who work in law firms only.
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4750028077337227019