Strata Solicitors Ltd

Following yesterday's announcement on the Discount Rate, Ravinder Johal, Head of Litigation at Strata Solicitors, GB's In-House Law Firm provides an update on what this means.

The legal profession has undergone a transformation with the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) in September 2021. This new pathway to becoming a solicitor aims to modernise the qualification process for those qualifying in England and Wales. What is the SQE? The SQE is an assessment for all prospective solicitors, regardless of their background and degree. It is no longer a requirement that you need to have completed a law degree or postgraduate conversion course in law. The SQE replaces the traditional Legal Practice Course (LPC) and training contract. Under the new system trainee solicitors must: hold a degree or equivalent qualification in any subject; pass stages 1 and 2 of the SQE; complete two years qualifying work experience (QWE); and meet the SRA's character and suitability requirements. The SQE consists of two parts: SQE1 is a multiple-choice exam focusing on legal knowledge, while SQE2 considers practical legal skills such as advocacy, legal research, and writing. Alongside the SQE exams, a two-year period of qualifying work experience (QWE) must be completed prior to qualification. This will need to be signed off by a solicitor. This is effectively replacing the old-style training contract, which has been notoriously difficult to secure. Benefits of the SQE There are many benefits to the introduction of the SQE: Broadening of Talent: The SQE opens the legal profession to a wider range of candidates, bringing fresh perspectives and skills to law firms. Standardisation of Qualification: The SQE ensures a consistent standard of qualification across all new solicitors. They will have met the same rigorous standards, enhancing the overall quality of the legal profession. Flexibility in Training: Firms can tailor their training programs to suit their specific needs and areas of specialisation, allowing for more targeted and efficient training. Being a Trainee at Strata Solicitors We currently have 3 Trainees at Strata Solicitors, the legal division of Gallagher Bassett Charley Heath, Charlie Marklew and David Walton, who are due to qualify in 2025. Our Trainees have the opportunity to develop their technical legal skills through a mixture of training and hands on experience. Aside from technical expertise they will be able to develop wider skills, for example commercial awareness, client care and the other soft skills required of a Solicitor. Our Trainees take on extra responsibility from an early stage and have the opportunity to support the wider business in projects, research, and training. All Trainees are appointed a Trainee Supervisor who will support them with getting the most out of their training and providing guidance along the way. They will be required to keep a Training Diary throughout the Programme and will meet with their Trainee supervisor monthly to review and track their progress. Our Trainees will then qualify into their preferred area of practice within Strata Solicitors. The SQE provides a more flexible, cost-effective way to enter the profession compared to the Legal Practice Course/Training Contract route, which will undoubtedly offer a refreshing change to the legal industry. With these changes in place, we hope to see a more diversified legal profession with more opportunities for those wishing to pursue a career in law.

Leading claims and risk management provider Gallagher Bassett's recent acquisition of Caytons Law LLP (Caytons) has expanded its litigation offering, complementing the existing services provided by Gallagher Bassett's in-house law firm, Strata Solicitors. Together, the two legal firms bring decades of litigation experience in the UK, and being part of the Gallagher Bassett family allows them to leverage the extensive claims management expertise and resources available to them. With this latest addition, Gallagher Bassett now offers a holistic portfolio of legal services, including recovery and subrogation, coverage, niche and complex pre-and-post defence litigation services available to clients including corporates, captives, carriers, and managing general agents (MGAs). Sam Moore, managing partner of Caytons and Chris Sturridge-Packer, director of Strata Solicitors sat down to discuss their career journeys, what Gallagher Bassett's expanded legal solutions will mean for the market and what they plan to achieve in 2025. Q: Can you share your experience in the legal claims industry? Sam: I've worked in the insurance industry for about 15 years, getting my start in a niche professional indemnity firm as a claims handler. I then moved to Caytons, where I trained to become a qualified solicitor and eventually the managing partner. Chris: I had a very similar career journey as Sam. I also started off in claims handling with another law firm who specialised in corporate motor and liability claims following a period of work experience. I joined Strata Solicitors in 2011, where I became a qualified solicitor and have worked in several operational roles since. Both Sam and I were the first trainee solicitors at our firms. Q: What do you find most interesting about the legal claims management industry? Sam: I enjoy professional indemnity litigation because every case is different. Whether I'm working on claims from architects, engineers, building contractors, solicitors, or insurance brokers, each insured client and their insurer have their own unique needs and ways of interacting with us. Chris: Coming from a background of motor claims, with motor vehicles everywhere and high volumes of claims, you think it's the centre of the insurance world. But after joining Gallagher Bassett, I realised there's a huge insurance world out there with many complex, diverse areas, and it was — still is — fascinating to get that exposure daily. Q: From your perspective, what matters most to clients? Sam: Our clients expect service excellence, and in joining the Gallagher Bassett team, we will have access to the resources and knowledge to continue to deliver outcomes that matter most. This acquisition is an exciting time for our continued growth, and we're proud to be backed by a stable, expert partner with a strong presence in the UK market. Chris: The key thing clients are looking for from us is deep expertise in their chosen area. They want us to understand the nuance of their business and really get into the detail with them, so that we can provide them customised solutions that fit their priorities. Q: What advice would you give to early career professionals? Sam: As a trainee solicitor or young legal professional looking to become a solicitor, a career in the insurance market will offer you many opportunities. Insurance claims is an exciting and constantly growing industry. It's important to develop your career somewhere that gives you real responsibility from day one. If you've had that real responsibility dealing with claims during your development then, once you're qualified, you're already a specialist. That is the opportunity we give to people. Chris: This is something Sam and I agree won't change following the acquisition. I'm a big believer in giving responsibility to new starters as soon as they're comfortable and empowering our people to make decisions. If you're in your early career, you need to seek out an environment that's going to give you that exposure, but also have the right supervision and controls in place so you're in a position to reach your aspirations. Q: Following the recent expansion of Gallagher Bassett's legal solutions, what are you planning to achieve in 2025? Sam: The Caytons team has felt very welcomed from day one, genuinely. I think we can learn a lot from each other, lean on our different areas of expertise, and enhance our service offering. Gallagher Bassett is a growth business — forward thinking and entrepreneurial — and I'm excited to see Caytons continue to grow as 'A Gallagher Bassett Company'. Chris: We're always looking for where we can deliver greater value and outcomes to our clients, and the expansion of Gallagher Bassett's legal solutions is an exciting step for the range of what we can deliver. The goal is to always provide excellent service, claim after claim, year after year. In 2025, we're set to go beyond the standard our clients expect.

Author – Ravinder Johal, Head of Litigation In December last year, it was announced that the Personal Injury Discount Rate (PIDR) would increase to 0.5%, as required by the Civil Liability Act 2018. The change came into effect earlier this month on January 11th.

Author – Ravinder Johal, Head of Litigation While the phrase 'time is money' might underpin many legal firms' billing structures, our team of solicitors has turned this approach on its head to drive growth. Strata Solicitors — A Gallagher Bassett Company — has applied its extensive experience in motor and liability claims to offer clients a results focused service, instead of being motivated by billable hours.