Co-operative Legal Services to create 3,000 new jobs

Detail is starting to emerge about the proposed scale of some of the new legal services businesses being establish in the wake of the Legal Services Act, and it seems that at least one of them, The Co-operative Group, is not so much dipping its toe in, as plunging head-first into the market with a gusto which may take some of its more traditional rivals by surprise. 

When The Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) was one of the first three alternative business structures to be approved in March, it was said that it planned to recruit 150 members of staff in addition to the 450 staff it already had operating from its Bristol base.  However, CLS has now announced that it in fact intends to offer 3,000 new jobs in its legal services arm, 90% of which will be legal roles, creating what it claims will be "the largest consumer law business in the country" – a lofty ambition indeed.

The recruitment drive will be spread across Bristol and five new regional hubs across England and Wales to be created, as well as a new London-based family law operation.   Chief executive, Peter Marks, has confirmed that it is CLS's intention to use its existing 330 high street businesses as outlets for its legal services, after a successful pilot in 30 bank branches and that he believes that the plans will offer particular opportunities for younger lawyers and aspiring-lawyers.

CLS will offer a range of consumer focused services including family law, wills and probate, conveyancing, personal injury claims, and employment law advice - via telephone, internet or face-to face.

CLS’s pioneering approach to the provision of legal services has already been recognised through one of the industry's top awards for innovation.  The Legal Industry Pioneer Award, given to the organisation which has taken the boldest steps in pursuing alternative business models or new ways of delivering legal services, was awarded to CLS at the prestigious Financial Times Innovative Lawyers 2011 awards.

The Co-op has been involved in a variety of professional services markets for many years, including banking, insurance, funerals and pharmacy services, which may explain why it is prepared to be bold in its latest moves into the legal sector.  Peter Marks said “We already have a first class reputation for delivering professional services.....We see the law as yet another area where a Co-operative solution can be successfully applied for the customer’s benefit. Over the next five years we want to fundamentally change the face of legal services and make access far easier - today’s announcement underlines that ambition.”