Taking a holiday
Keystone's structure can accommodate holidays in much the same way as a conventional law firm. With proper planning, you can switch off your phone and laptop and completely unwind for your chosen period. If you prefer, it could be business as usual, though from a nicer location. The choice is yours; Central Office and colleagues are the key to your preferred strategy.
Whatever your personal preference and holiday style, where you are not going to be working in the normal way for a day or more, it is essential that you carry out the tasks listed below before starting your holiday:
- Manage your clients' expectations by advising them of your holiday dates well in advance and tell them who will be covering in your absence. You should tell the client if the colleague will be charging a higher hourly rate.
- Use Keyed-In to add the colleague to the client/matter.
- Email holiday notes and files directly to the colleague, and cc the Administration Team to admin@keystonelaw.co.uk (where applicable).
- Turn on your out of office' in Outlook and provide a suitable message (see example below).
- Update your mobile and landline voice messages and advise Moneypenny how to handle your calls.
- Your holiday notes should try to anticipate the likely work required in your absence.
Where you ask a colleague to babysit a matter for you, you should additionally:
- Ensure they are happy to act and have the right capacity and experience.
- Agree the fee position with them.
- Introduce them to the client in writing and explain the cost to the client. Note that if the client is not told of the new colleague's involvement and rate, then they can refuse to pay for that colleague's time.