New to a Delhi Legal Firm: How Do I Create HR Policies Aligned with Local Laws?

Hello, I have just joined a Delhi-based legal firm. They do not have any HR policies and procedures for employees.

Can you please help me out to get policies according to the Delhi Shop and Establishment Act, and other basic policies for organization development and improvement?

Regards

First of all, confirm whether the Delhi Shops and Establishment Act is applicable to legal firms.

How many staff are there?

Statutory compliances like PF, etc., need to be checked out.

Dear Harsh,

I find a logical contradiction in your post. Those who are from a legal firm are supposed to settle queries of other members on HR Policies based on the Shops and Establishment Act. Even though you are from a legal firm, you have raised this query. Possibly your legal firm might not be providing services related to labor law; nevertheless, a lawyer's firm is still supposed to be a leader and should be above others, not below!

Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar

Legal Firm and the Bombay Shops and Establishments Act

The judgment of a Division Bench of the Bombay High Court in Sakharam Narayan Kherdekar v. City of Nagpur Corporation and others AIR 1964 Bombay 200, held that an office of an advocate is not covered under the expression 'commercial establishment' under the Bombay Shops and Establishments Act.

So, the legal company needs to cross-check the applicability of the Act to itself. I do not think the Shops and Establishment Act applies to a legal firm. Policies regarding employment, terms and conditions of employment, recruitment, and statutory compliances have to be spelled out and formalized.

Key Considerations for Legal Firms

- What is the size of the company?
- What is the leave policy?
- Many basic questions need to be answered.

Setting up a proper HR division would help the company settle down and allow the team of lawyers to concentrate on legal areas, which is the core business of the company. They can refer to: https://www.citehr.com/108493-how-do...new-human.html

Regards

You have not stated who you are and what your position is in the firm. If you wish to get it done on a commercial basis, then I can put you in touch with persons who are capable of executing it for you. If not, there are enough posts on this in the forum. Search for it.

Company Overview

This is in regards to the company details that you have asked for. My employer deals exclusively in the corporate sector, providing legal services to corporate clients and maintaining/creating policies as per clients' requirements and company law. We also offer accounting services to these sectors.

Recruitment and Responsibilities

Earlier, they did not have a staff of more than 10-15. Now, they are expanding, and my responsibility is to recruit employees for PAN India as per requirements. The other staff's responsibility is to deal with customers and provide solutions/support based on our legal products. The employees also have specific targets related to product dealing; it's a sort of advisor profile.

HR Policies and Office Decorum

They have asked me to prepare HR policies and decorum for office employees as per the Delhi Shop and Establishment Act because they have a registered office in Delhi.

Regards,
Harsh
Asst. Manager - HR

Understanding Policies and Procedures

A policy is a statement of intent and is implemented as a procedure or protocol. Policies are generally adopted by the Board or senior governance body within an organization, whereas procedures or protocols would be developed and adopted by senior executive officers.

Regards