Co-op to create '3,000 jobs in legal sector'

Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) was one of the first three organisations to be licensed by the SRA as an ABS earlier this year (see solicitorjournal.com, 28 March 2012).

Peter Marks, group chief executive, said that over the next five years CLS, based in Bristol and employing around 450 legal staff, would open five additional regional hubs across England and Wales and set up a new family law operation in London, which would launch later this year.

He confirmed that the group would extend its current trial of legal services and funeral planning services through 30 selected branches of The Co-operative Bank and Britannia to all 330 high street branches.

'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,' Marks said.

'We intend to be totally customer focused and will help customers navigate the legal world so that they are much more comfortable with the experience and the outcomes.

'It is envisaged that about 90 per cent of the roles being created will be actual legal functions, with ten per cent made up of support staff.

'We are particularly keen to use our expansion as a way to offer opportunities to young people. Legal apprenticeships and opportunities for study leave will form an important part of this major employment opportunity.'

As well as family law, CLS is to offer will writing, probate and estate administration, conveyancing, personal injury claims, family law and employment law services.

'When the new legal services legislation was drafted it was envisaged that it would enable a new range of businesses to enter the closed world of legal services,' Marks said.

'Our ambition is to provide a service that will stop people feeling daunted by the prospect of having to work with a solicitor.'

The group operates 4,800 retail trading outlets and has an annual turnover of more than £13bn. It is the UK's fifth biggest food retailer and a major financial services provider, operating The Co-operative Bank and The Co-operative Insurance.

Among its other businesses are the biggest funeral services provider in the UK, the third largest pharmacy chain and one of Britain's largest farming operations.