Cripps Harries Hall LLP – A Leading Law Practice using Award Winning HR Software

Joan Wixey has been Payroll Manager at Cripps Harries Hall LLP, Solicitors, for nine years.  During this time she has seen staff numbers double and the offices they occupy increase from two initially to six at present.  

When Joan was searching for a new HR software provider, she shortlisted three companies to come and demonstrate their products. There were members of staff from other departments at the initial meetings including representatives from HR, IT and Management.   IT has always been a top priority for Cripps Harries Hall, they won the Legal IT Award in 2002 for the Best Use of IT by a Regional Firm. 

“Select Software was like a breath of fresh air!” she says.  “The feedback after the meeting was unbelievable.  Everyone agreed that Select HR was by far the best product we had seen.”

The primary focus when purchasing new software was that it was user-friendly and the provider was quick and reliable with support queries and after-sales service.  Joan’s main project was to set up the HR system, administer pensions and provide the Board with reports and costs from the system.  The decision to go with Select HR was made and Cripps Harries Hall had Select HR installed in May 2003.  Since then they have upgraded to the latest products, Select Insight is in use and Clearvision will be implemented in 2006. 

 

“Back in 2003 we were one of the first legal clients for Select  Software so we were able to grow together,” she continues.   “One of Select’s strengths is that they manage to maintain a small company philosophy whilst giving the service level of a larger company.  I can speak to any number of people and they all have the same friendly, helpful attitude and get back to me as fast as they can.”

Since upgrading to Select HR Insight, Joan has utilised Crystal Reports to extract management information.  “Reporting is fantastic!”  says Joan.  “You can make the report look just how you want it .” 

Select HR Clearvision, is under going a pilot scheme at the moment.  Full implementation is due later this year.  “We should see time saving once holidays are authorised on line”, comments Joan.  “The Absence Calendar is very popular with the staff that have piloted Clearvision, one screen gives you all this information at a glance!” she points out.  “Any resourcing problems or patterns of absence can be easily identified.” 

Absence is always a popular subject for HR management.  Select HR Insight has a Bradford Factor report which Joan says the HR managers find extremely useful. So much so that it has become integral to sickness monitoring for Cripps Harries Hall.  “Once you can pinpoint those people who are regular absentees you can investigate the causes.  Before we had this report monitoring absence was not as straight forward.” 

There is also quite a large proportion of part time staff at Cripps Harries Hall, many of whom are female and have returned following the birth of their children.    “Their benefits are sometimes hard to track,” mentions Joan.  “Select Insight enables me to do this and keep up to date.”

Another important area for Cripps Harries Hall is Continuing Professional Development – CPD.  The company was awarded the Lexcel quality mark in February 1999 - the first Top 100 law firm to achieve this award and have retained the award every year since. The quality award was developed by the Law Society and looks at all aspects of practice management, helping to ensure that practices deliver excellent client care and a consistently high quality of service.

Lexcel requirements cover management structure, services and forward planning, financial management, management of people, office systems, client care and case management. Annual assessments to maintain accreditation are carried out by the British Standards Institution.  Select HR Insight also has inbuilt checks in the system which warn you three months in advance of the amount of CPD yet to be gained in order to comply with the Law Society’s requirements.

“The inbuilt checks are invaluable, not only for CPD but for other workflow practices”, comments Joan.  When a new employee is set up on the system, Select HR Insight can be set up so that emails are sent to the relevant people before the member of staff joins, ensuring the individual has a desk, equipment, telephone, etc.  Joan also uses the Checklists function to jog her memory about benefits for different kinds of people. 

Joan is keen to point out the benefits of an excellent service culture.  “Select Software hold the same core principles that we do”, she points out.  “They support their clients and therefore their clients support them.   Select Insight and Clearvision are absolutely marvellous!”