Pinsent Masons is set to launch a contract lawyer service that will provide clients with access to lawyers on a temporary basis as and when they are needed.
‘Vario’ will offer in-house teams a group of freelance lawyers with a variety of experience to cover anything from fixed-term projects to maternity leave. The move follows clients’ increased demand for flexible lawyers and addresses the core issues of resource, cost and skills that often affect the in-house legal teams.
Pinsents partner Alison Bond, who heads Vario, said: ‘Clients are increasingly asking for access to flexible resources. However, we wanted to take the idea a step further and launch the next generation of this type of service.
‘There is a market out there for entrepreneurial lawyers who aren’t necessarily attracted to the traditional model but want more options. We’ve spent a lot of time designing a bespoke selection process, which helps candidates understand whether this is right for them, as well as whether they are right for us. We will actively manage assignments, staying close to clients and the lawyers themselves.’
The firm is currently recruiting for Vario and is seeking lawyers with substantial experience.
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) launched its pioneering interim lawyer service in 2009, while Eversheds piloted a similar scheme in 2011. BLP spun its Lawyers On Demand (LOD) service off last year and since its launch has grown annual revenues to over £7m.
‘We’re surprised it has taken firms this long but we welcome the competition,’ said Jonathan Brenner, co-founder and director of LOD. The interim market in law had long been regarded as providing a second rate service, but this has changed dramatically in recent years,’ said Brenner.