The Co-operative Legal Services

The Co-operative Legal Services
Business of a Consumer Co-operative
Industry Legal services
Founded 2006
Headquarters Manchester, United Kingdom
Area served
 United Kingdom
Key people
 Steven Round (Chief Operating Officer), Andrew Yeo (COFA), Chris May (COLP) [1]
Number of employees
 circa 500[2]
Parent The Co-operative Group
Website www.co-operativelegalservices.co.uk

Co-operative Legal Services Limited is a company which provides legal services in the United Kingdom, and a wholly owned subsidiary of The Co-operative Group.[3] It was established in 2006 and has its head office in Manchester and its main operations centres in Almondsbury, Bristol and Paddington, West London.

History

Co-operative Legal Services was founded in 2006.[4]

In March 2012 Co-operative Legal Services became one of the first three organisations [5] and the first major consumer brand [6] to receive approval from the Solicitors Regulation Authority to become an "alternative business structure", allowing it to offer a range of legal services which were previously only allowed to be offered by solicitors firms.[2][4]

In May 2012 Co-operative Legal Services announced plans to establish five regional hubs across England, and to hire 3,000 additional staff over the following five years.[7][8]

In September 2012 Co-operative Legal Services launched a family law service offering fixed fees for services including child protection, divorce, financial issues and mediation.[9]

Operations

The writing of wills, probate and estate administration are all undertaken by Co-operative Legal Services Ltd., a subsidiary of the Co-operative Group Limited trading as The Co-operative Legal Services.[10] Members of The Co-operative Group are entitled to earn dividend on wills and conveyancing and qualify for advice on many other aspects of the law free of charge.[11] Personal injury or probate does not qualify for a share in the profits.

Co-operative Legal Services is headquartered in Manchester and has its main operations facility in Almondsbury Bristol, where it employs around 500 staff and a further office in Paddington, West London with 40 staff.[7]

Services

Co-operative Legal Services offers the following services:[12]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/firm-based-authorisation/abs-register/567391.page
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Wait for ABSs is over: Tesco law is here". The Guardian. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  3. ↑ Registered in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1985, No. 5671209
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Co-op Legal Services first to launch as an ABS". The Lawyer. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  5. ↑ http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/abs-trailblazers-revealed
  6. ↑ http://www.co-operative.coop/Corporate/PDFs/Annual-Report/2012/TCG_Annual-Review-2012.pdf
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Co-op to hire 3,000 lawyers in challenge to high street solicitors". The Guardian. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  8. ↑ "Co-op to create 3,000 new legal jobs across England". BBC News. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  9. ↑ "Co-op pledges "no nasty surprises" as it launches fixed-fee family law operation". The Lawyer. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  10. ↑ Registered in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1985, No. 6323818
  11. ↑ The Co-operative Membership Co-operative Legal Services (retrieved 20 August 2009)
  12. ↑ "Home". Co-operative Legal Services. Retrieved 25 September 2014.

Further reading

External links