Martin Searle, all-female law practice, specialising in community care, housing and employment law is the first and only solicitors firm to be short-listed for the prestigious Brighton & Hove Business
August 17, 2006 (Press Release) --
Martin Searle, a new all-female law practice, specialising in community care, housing and employment law is the first and only solicitors firm to be short-listed for the prestigious Brighton & Hove Business Awards - the BAHBAs - alongside the city’s biggest and brightest names. Martin Searle Solicitors will now go head to head with two other companies in the coveted “Responsible Business” category.
At a time when many large, established law firms are giving up publicly funded case work, deeming it to be unprofitable, Martin Searle is committed to this client group. The fixed fees now in place for legal help work means that this work is carried out at a loss, even though it involves issues essential in protecting people’s basic human rights, for example, their right not to lose their home.
To be considered for the award, the firm had to demonstrate corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the community and how the principles of responsibility are helping to drive productivity and performance in the workplace.
Martin Searle’s campaigning and innovative approach in the field of housing, community care law and employment law has resulted in a reputation built on strong ethical principles. All three directors are proud that they are changing the public’s perception of solicitors from a profit-driven to a service-led profession.
A commitment to corporate social responsibility forms a large part of their overall commercial strategy and has seen turnover double in their second year as a result of improved client confidence, loyalty, client referrals and staff motivation.
Examples of this commitment include:
• Free and discounted legal advice to the non-profit sector, charities and to the City’s most vulnerable people who are finding it difficult to access legal advice at normal legal charging rates.
• Free training to businesses - they are currently working in partnership with EU-funded Disability Equals Business to advise businesses of their obligations and duties in relation to disability discrimination legislation.
• Training businesses at subsidised rates in partnership with ACAS and Business Link to introduce best practice employment to as wide an audience as possible.
• Participation in the Brighton & Hove Community Mark scheme, providing free employment training to boards of trustees and advice to small charitable bodies on housing and property issues.
• The firm’s directors have acted as business mentors for the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow at Sussex University and the Prince’s Trust, as well as sitting as a trustee of local charity, MACS (Money Advice and Community Support Service).
Co-founder and Director of Martin Searle Solicitors, Fiona Martin comments: “We believe responsible business practice should be at the heart of the core beliefs and ethics in a modern law firm, not least because it can benefit reputation, customers and ultimately have a positive impact on the bottom line.
At a time when many large, established law firms are giving up publicly funded case work, deeming it to be unprofitable, Martin Searle is committed to this client group. The fixed fees now in place for legal help work means that this work is carried out at a loss, even though it involves issues essential in protecting people’s basic human rights, for example, their right not to lose their home.
To be considered for the award, the firm had to demonstrate corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the community and how the principles of responsibility are helping to drive productivity and performance in the workplace.
Martin Searle’s campaigning and innovative approach in the field of housing, community care law and employment law has resulted in a reputation built on strong ethical principles. All three directors are proud that they are changing the public’s perception of solicitors from a profit-driven to a service-led profession.
A commitment to corporate social responsibility forms a large part of their overall commercial strategy and has seen turnover double in their second year as a result of improved client confidence, loyalty, client referrals and staff motivation.
Examples of this commitment include:
• Free and discounted legal advice to the non-profit sector, charities and to the City’s most vulnerable people who are finding it difficult to access legal advice at normal legal charging rates.
• Free training to businesses - they are currently working in partnership with EU-funded Disability Equals Business to advise businesses of their obligations and duties in relation to disability discrimination legislation.
• Training businesses at subsidised rates in partnership with ACAS and Business Link to introduce best practice employment to as wide an audience as possible.
• Participation in the Brighton & Hove Community Mark scheme, providing free employment training to boards of trustees and advice to small charitable bodies on housing and property issues.
• The firm’s directors have acted as business mentors for the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow at Sussex University and the Prince’s Trust, as well as sitting as a trustee of local charity, MACS (Money Advice and Community Support Service).
Co-founder and Director of Martin Searle Solicitors, Fiona Martin comments: “We believe responsible business practice should be at the heart of the core beliefs and ethics in a modern law firm, not least because it can benefit reputation, customers and ultimately have a positive impact on the bottom line.
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