Co-op enjoys rise in turnover

Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) has announced strong revenue growth for 2012. Legal Futures reports that CLS, one of the biggest entrants into the ABS market last year, revealed that its revenue was up 12.8% to £33 million last year.

CLS focuses on six areas of law: family, will writing, probate, conveyancing, personal injury and employment. In a press release, the Co-op said: "We continue to deliver our ambitious growth plan. Year-on-year investment in people, infrastructure, processes and marketing grew significantly and helped to drive revenue growth […] Even more encouragingly, our probate volumes were up 55%, while our new family law practice has gained market share quickly with caseloads up significantly. Overall, CLS made a small profit following continued significant investment for future growth, changes to both the pricing of services and the nature and duration of cases. We are working to become the number one legal service provider in the UK and are creating thousands of new jobs in the process."

In other Co-op news, it has carried out research which shows that four out of five divorcees want family law services provided on a fixed-fee basis. CLS has launched a campaign - "Stop the Clock" - against hourly rates in light of the legal aid cuts introduced on 1 April by LASPO. It already offers a variety of fixed-fee family services, including £475 for a "managed undefended divorce" and £950 for a pre-nuptial agreement (where the assets are under £1 million).