Local authorities operate in a highly pressurised environment, continually expected to achieve more for less. Service transformation, and dealing with the deficit are current issues to be tackled.

Most local authorities now agree that the best solution in relation to legal services is a balance of in-house and external services. The question is where to set the balance. Often the key factors will be expertise and available resource. Even where the capability exists to undertake work, there may be insufficient resource to do so. Alternatively, this might be a complex new area such as criminal liability for corporate killing or intellectual property, tax or State aid work.

How we can help

Many of our lawyers have worked in-house in local authorities and understand the pressures. We appreciate the complexities of working as part of a big organisation, dealing with members and the political process.

We also recognise that you will have your own in-house legal team and we will not be required to undertake services best sorted in-house. But when it comes to specialist support or top up services, we have structured ourselves around supporting you. Our goal is to help your authority meet its corporate aims.

We have listened to what you have told us, namely that you want clear and open billing, more effective ways of working and control of our teams so that you work with the people you want and like and who can deliver results for you.