AN ambitious law firm has joined the profession’s elite after being awarded the Law Society’s top management standard.

Coles Solicitors, which has offices in Northallerton , York and Thirsk , in North Yorkshire, has been accredited with the society’s Lexcel practice management award, given to only the top seven per cent of the profession.

Lexcel accredited practices undergo rigorous independent assessment every year to ensure they meet the required standards of excellence in areas such as client care, case management and risk management.

Peter Gibson, Coles’ managing director and principal solicitor, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the Lexcel accreditation. It is the result of a lot hard work by the whole team and I’m very proud of them.

“But it is our clients who stand to gain the most. They can rest assured that the way we manage the business has their interests at heart and runs efficiently.”

Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, president of the Law Society of England and Wales, said: “Gaining and maintaining Lexcel is no mean feat.

“There are many facets of being a Lexcel accredited law firm, including client care. A commitment to customer service in today’s evermore competitive legal services market is vital.”

The Lexcel award comes only months after Coles successfully achieved the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme benchmark, which offers clients buying and selling their homes assurance of service.

Now employing 18 staff, Coles has seen major investment and development since it was taken on by Mr Gibson nearly six years ago, opening purpose-built headquarters in Northallerton and taking on practices in York and Thirsk.