[1]Ryan: ambitious plans
Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) has begun staffing its family division after launching what it described as the largest recruitment drive in its history.
CLS, which last week applied to become an alternative business structure, is looking to appoint up to 150 new positions. It currently has around 400 staff.
Some of the new recruits are for the personal injury and probate teams, as CLS continues its expansion in the consumer legal services market.
The majority of the positions will be at its Bristol headquarters, while others will be based at its new family law unit [2] in London, which will start operating later this year.
CLS is recruiting five levels of staff: family team leaders (solicitors or legal executives) on salaries ranging from £28,000 to £50,000; family caseworkers (solicit
ors, legal executives, trainees or LPC graduates on £19,000 to £28,000; probate solicitors, legal executives and case handlers on £20,000 to £50,000, personal injury litigators on £25,000 to £40,000; and personal injury team leaders on £35,000 to £48,000.
CLS is already one of the largest employers of legal executives in the country.
Managing director Eddie Ryan said: “We have ambitious plans for our business and we want people with ambitions to match.
“The Legal Services Act will change the way in which legal services are delivered in England and Wales and we are going to be 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.”
Jenny Beck, head of professional practice in the family law unit, said: “The Co-operative Legal Services is part of the Co-operative Group with an excellent reputation as an employer which really invests in its employees, offers attractive terms and provides competitive salaries and an attractive pension provision.
“We will be offering the right people a chance to enhance their career with a fast-growing, dynamic employer.”