BATTENS Solicitors has been awarded the Law Society's national quality mark - the Lexcel Practice Management Standard.

The Law Society's Lexcel quality mark is independently assessed and awarded to law firms that achieve the highest professional standards.

To attain the award they must demonstrate levels of competence in management practice across the entire business.

David Stephens, Battens Solicitors' managing director, said: "Winning Lexcel accreditation is a great achievement.

"It is a tribute to the hard work all our staff have put in over many months, and a demonstration and reassurance to our clients of the high standards and quality service that we provide throughout all areas of our business.

"We have already won national recognition as one of the UK's most progressive law firms, with a reputation for innovative and forward thinking.

"This latest achievement acknowledges the quality of our professional services."

The Lexcel quality mark is assessed annually to ensure that the law firm meets standards of excellence in such areas as client care, case management, and risk management.

The annual assessments require that standards have not only been met but also improved.

Battens Solicitors has offices in Dorchester, Weymouth, Yeovil and Sherborne.

It recently celebrated its 300th anniversary.

It has become one of the UK's first law firms to incorporate as a commercial company and has 134 staff in four offices.

It wins more than 90 per cent of its business from its existing 20,000 business and personal clients, and from personal recommendation.