GOING BEYOND BUZZWORDS
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GOING BEYOND BUZZWORDS
How one law firm is changing lives for the better
Left to right : Richard Burnett , Lindsey Kidd , Caroline Jones .
As any business leader knows , running a business takes energy , commitment and vision . HM3 Legal is forging a pathway , challenging the traditional way of doing things in the legal sector . So , why make a tough job even tougher ? Wirral Life spoke to members of the senior team at HM3 Legal to find the answers .
Beyond business as usual Lindsey , MD : Since 2019 we have been setting out a clear roadmap to ensure that we are in the best possible shape for our clients , colleagues and communities . When Covid hit – as with many of us – it forced us to step back and reassess . We had a bold plan , and the test of our nerve was whether people would embrace our vision for a brighter future . They did .
In fact , once we launched our 6 new standards and how we wanted to be bl ** dy brilliant lawyers , many people completely got it !
Why HM3 Legal ? ‘ Wow ’ service . Hillyer McKeown started 65 years ago as a High Street law firm . In the early 2000s we added commercial legal services . Our 3rd evolution marks our absolute commitment to delivering a gold-standard customer service ( independently accredited by Investor in Customers for the fourth year running ). What does this really mean for someone looking for a lawyer ? Part of the ‘ wow ’ is being proactive , every lawyer , every time .
‘ Going the extra mile ’ is easy to say , but what does it mean ? In short , doing what we say we will do , when we say we will do it . We walk the talk , avoiding confusing buzzwords and legalese that make ‘ beige ’ law firms look and sound similar . And clients appreciate our no quibble Service Level Guarantee pledge if we genuinely fall short of our service promises . Of course , we realise we have work to do , so are continually improving .
Business with a capital W : Women Richard : Commercial Director : We are proud to swim against the tide in the legal industry . HM3 Legal ’ s women mean business . We are led by a woman and two-thirds of our partners are women . We are very proud of this , and I would like to see more women in top positions in law firms .
Why does this matter ? Believe it or not , according to the SRA men still dominate senior positions in UK law firms ( 69 %) yet make up only 48 % of lawyers . In 2023 we are asking : why is this still the case ? Regular feedback suggests that our diversity and collaborative way of working is adding value for those we do business with . A win-win .
Again , fine words . How do we bring our commitment to life ? We are in partnership with the Bolesworth Estate supporting events such as Women in Business , and sponsored the Cheshire Sportswoman ’ s Lunch , featuring prominent ex-City footballer Karen Bardsley .
Business with a capital P : Purpose Lindsey : We are taking steps to join the 6,000 global purpose-led businesses by becoming a Benefit Corporation . Why choose B Corp ? For us , business as usual is no longer enough . We believe people buying legal services deserve more than the same old way of doing things .
Our bold ambition is to become part of this community of world-leading businesses . The Body Shop and Ben and Jerry ’ s are B Corps spearheading global change .
By going through this 2-year process we are innovating while building a more resilient future beyond ourselves - for everybody . We believe this is an important conversation to be having . You won ’ t see us boasting about eyewatering profits or expanding headcount without considering how we are achieving growth in a sustainable way !
Why should a law firm care ? Caroline , Head of Commercial Property : Plenty of people have experienced a legal profession largely motivated by money . Profitability is important to succeed , but we believe this should not be at the expense of everything else . Currently , there are very few UK B Corp law firms . All are larger than HM3 Legal , with resources and budgets dedicated to measuring their impact .
Fortunately , we are nimble and agile so can adapt and respond quickly to changes . Achieving positive change is underpinned by a sharp commercial mindset our clients appreciate .
Your three words to describe HM3 Legal ? Lindsey : Bold . Empathetic . Human . Richard : Responsive . Refreshing . Connected . Caroline : No-nonsense . Innovative . Collaborative .
Does this sound like your kind of legal team ? If it does , please get in touch .
Contact : Richard Burnett , Partner and Commercial Director , HM3 Legal . M : 07983 637149 E : rhb @ law . uk . com
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