LAW 9000 – Legal Best Practice is a standard which uses the internationally recognised ISO 9001 as its foundation and contains best-practice criteria specific to a legal practice.

It replaces the Quality in Law program, which consisted of two tiers – the QL II Best Practice Program, and QL II – IV, based on the Australian Business Excellence Framework.

The QL Program was actively managed by QL Incorporated. QL was formed in the early 90’s and created a legal profession specific quality certification programme (originally called the QIL Code) which was later merged with the NSW Law Society’s Best Practice program to create the two tier scheme.

LAW9000 has now superseded the Best Practice program and is managed by SAI Global. The relationship between SAI Global and QL is set out in a formal collaboration agreement, the other parties being The Law Society of NSW South Wales and The College of Law Pty Ltd. Neville Carter, Group Managing Director of the College of Law is also the Secretary of QL.

QL and SAI are now partners in business improvement and quality certification for the legal profession in Australasia. QL’s major focus is to ensure that LAW9000 is the best quality management system for legal practice and that it is effective and constantly improved.

It has continuing liaison with SAI, and facilitates the review and development of legal quality standards for the LAW9000 and Excellence in Law programs. It includes representation from professional bodies and liaises with organisations involved in the management, regulation and education services for the practice of law.

The Schedule attached to the agreement lists the input of each party with QL constituting the advisory board to Standards Australia to undertake in consultation ongoing review and updating of the scheme.

Click here to see QL’s Constitution.

The development of the LAW9000 program now means that the function of the Board has evolved from being the operational manager of the QL Program to one focused on managing the relationship with SAI Global.

The ongoing liaison with SAI facilitates this process as well as the continuing development of legal quality standards for the Law 9000 and Excellence in Law programs.

The Board does not now have a role in certification of a firm wishing to obtain LAW9000 certification and takes no direct role in this process. It is a non profit organisation with income derived from membership fees and royalties paid by SAI Global based on the number of firms certified as well as a royalty on material sold by SAI.

The QL Board meets quarterly and reviews the implementation of the annual strategy for the program and is composed of members draw from the following areas;

• Three representative of the Member Firms (including the Founding Member Firms) and;
• One representative of the Law Society of NSW, two representatives of the Law Council of Australia, and one representative from each Committee established in accordance with Clause 6.1(d); and
• Up to three additional persons as the Board may appoint additional Board members.

The major strategic activities for the current year include:

• Membership growth, mentoring and engagement in QL’s activities.
• Continued development of Tier II with SAI.
• Running membership education and information sessions in consultation with QL Partners
• Collaborating with SAI in the review of the Standard in accordance with the principles embodied in ISO 9001:2000.
• Engagement with SAI and representation to them of member’s feedback concerning the SAI/QL processes.
• Engagement with representative bodies from the legal profession.

The QL Board have reinstituted the annual QL award - for the individual seen as having made the most outstanding contribution to the aims of QL in the previous year and have renamed it in honour of the late Philip King.

The following are some articles of interest:

The College of Law undertakes the training required for firms to be able to achieve LAW9000 certification and this is conducted in consultation with SAI Global.

In conjunction with SAI Global QL Inc provides training programs through the Centre for Best Practice at The College of Law. These are designed to give legal practices the confidence and approach to understand and implement LAW 9000 and to manage their practice and deliver legal services in today's very competitive environment. See here for details.

Understand your markets
Know your clients
Continuously improve your practice
Be proactive and innovative
Be certified to LAW 9000
Enjoy your work
Use your practices's greatest assets - your people
Be competitive
Realise your true potential

"Survival is not compulsory"
- Deming