Co-op legal services will be among first ABSs

Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) has announced that it will apply to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to become an alternative business structure (ABS) on 3 January 2012. This is the first day that the SRA will be accepting ABS applications under the new Legal Services Act. The move looks set to place CLS among the foremost of the new legal services providers enabled by ABS legislation.

As reported in Legal Futures, CLS was established in 2006 as part of the Co-operative Group and has since grown into a business worth in excess of £25 million, placing its turnover among the top 100 law firms in the country. Employing over 400 staff, CLS offers a broad range of legal services geared towards the high street customer, including will writing, probate and estate administration, conveyancing and employment law, with family law to be added to its services in 2012.

Eddie Ryan, CLS's managing director, said: “The Legal Services Act will change the way in which legal services are delivered in England and Wales and we are looking forward to playing a leading role in the new era. We believe that the presence of The Co-operative's trusted brand and values, together with a combination of first-class products and services, will provide customers with greater accessibility to legal advice and better value for money. We are working extremely hard with the Solicitors Regulation Authority in preparation for the introduction of ABSs and we look forward to being licensed so that we can provide a full range of legal services to our members and customers.”