In a series of Supporters in Focus pieces, we are thrilled to introduce our sponsor of the Private Client Team of the Year (Boutique) Award at The British Wills and Probate Awards 2023.
We are delighted to have The BEST Foundation on board with the sixth year of The British Wills & Probate Awards and grateful they took the time to answer some of our questions.
First of all, tell us who you are and what you do.
The BEST Foundation is a non-profit membership body, who want to represent the best that the estate planning industry has to offer. Our mission is twofold; to represent members of the highest standard and to actively work to improve the industry as a whole.
What made you support this category and what is your message to the shortlisted firms.
We chose to sponsor the Best Use of Technology award as we are passionate about the incorporation of technology into the world of estate planning and it only felt right to celebrate those who are doing so. Those shortlisted have our support in knowing that technology is not something to be concerned about, but something to embrace when considering how your business will look in the future and the benefits that it can offer.
Can you share a success story or notable achievement related to your work in the legal sector? How has it impacted your company or the industry as a whole?
One of our biggest wins to date has to be the success of our first conference that we held in May of this year at Silverstone Racetrack. The feedback from the event was fantastic and we were proud to present an event in the industry that really stood out, with speakers who focussed on innovation and of course technology. The event has led to a number of new connections for us and we hope it inspired those that attended in a number of ways.
In your opinion, what are some of the key challenges currently faced by law firms or legal professionals in the industry? How does your company aim to address or mitigate these challenges?
We have been vocal about the concerns that we believe the selling of pre-paid probate poses. We feel that there is very little to be gained by offering such a product and even less for consumers in purchasing it, but the risks associated are very worrying. As some will be aware, we started a campaign to end pre-paid probate and we have been in touch with a number of bodies with our signed petition. We have also had concerns with how the delays at the OPG have been affecting the industry and led the campaign for change in the levels of service being offered there too. As a result of the campaign, we now hold regular meetings with the OPG to discuss the issues that our members are facing. We are always looking for ways to drive change in ways that will have a real impact for our members and their clients.
Now, let’s meet the Best Use of Technology shortlist (in alphabetical order):
- Cashroom Ltd
- Estatesearch
- Estate Research
- Inheritance Data
Thank you to The BEST Foundation for their support for The British Wills & Probate Awards 2023.
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