As the Co-op makes legal history, Jon Robins goes behind the scenes
No surprises then that the Co-op is first off the starting blocks in the ABS race. The retailer, together with two high street firms (John Welch & Stammers and Lawbridge Solicitors Ltd), became the first Solicitor Regulation Authority (SRA) licensed alternative business structure (ABS). The Co-operative Legal Services becomes, in the words of its press release, the first “consumer brand” officially to be licensed by the SRA under the Legal Services Act 2007 (LSA 2007).
Building business
While the progress of QualitySolicitors polarises the high street profession, the Co-op has been quietly building its legal services profile with remarkable speed. In less than six years, the retailer has built a business from scratch to one that currently has some 450 staff. A new recruitment drive is expected to increase staff levels by another third before the end of the year.
QualitySolicitors might well have private equity investment to fund a £15m advertising campaign designed by Team Saatchi no less. But frankly, it has got “a hard road to travel” indeed
