Practitioners are anxious to get started but are uncertain about what quality process or business improvement system will work best in their practices. It was designed to minimise production mistakes and ensure an output of products that was consistent, reliable and uniform regardless of the pair of hands that produced it or the day of the week on which it was produced. The process also requires ongoing revision and enhancement of those processes where appropriate. Businesses wishing to receive endorsement for their QA program may obtain certification under the International Quality Standards which are known as the ISO9000 Series. In cooperation with the Legal Profession, specially tailored quality system guidelines for the legal profession have been developed which provide a quality standard more appropriate for the practice of law and less closely connected to the manufacturer of widgets.
Businesses obtain certification via an external audit process.
After receiving certification, regular audits ensure that businesses are doing what it is they have committed to do. The ISO9000 Certification has been the quality program required of suppliers, including law firms, by a number of governments in Australia. Unlike the focus of QA, which looks at what we do now in our business and how we might accomplish it most efficiently, TQM looks at what we do now and then asks what are we trying to achieve by doing this. This is a far more strategic process and is aimed at creating a culture of continuous improvement and scrutiny producing continual enhancement of business operation. For legal firms such commitment is recognised by certification under the QIL Code.